No.14577070, Private, Eric Ronald FITCH
Aged 20
Eric Ronald Fitch was born on 20th June 1923 (Ely Q3-1923 3B:802), son of Charles and Lena Rose FITCH (née ROUT) of Wicken.
He had 2 brothers, Albert E (1916-1918) and Charles R (1920-1995) and 2 sisters, Phyllis Irene PEARSON (1926-2006) and Sylvia M (1930-2008)
In the 1939 register the family were at Upward Road, Wicken. Father Charles [15-9-1893, a stock man; mother Rose (Lena) [20-7-1899]; brother Reginald [[5-1-1920] a tractor driver; sisters Sylvia [24-8-1930] and Phyliss (Irene) [26-1-1925] still at school. Phyllis later became Mrs PEARSON, and then Mrs LUCAS. There are 2 closed records |
The 14th Sherwood Foresters had fought in North Africa 2nd battle of El Alamein, then had a spell in Persia and Iraq before returning to North
Africa, joining the 1st Armoured Division. They then took part in the Anzio landing in Italy which was when Eric was killed.
The Battalion had 13 men killed on 14th March 1944. The battalion were in the wadis area of the beachhead - to the left of the Anzio-Albano road. It was seemingly
quite horrific country to fight in.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |