TOPIC:

The wound would seem to have been the likely reason for the suicide, at Henleaze, Bristol, over 35 years later. Very sad. Does anyone know what his regiment was?
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There was an Edward William Fletcher, born Keynsham, between Bristol and Bath, in 1881, who may have been the same man, so perhaps the Gloucestershire Regiment?
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. FLETCHER.—December 18, at 12, Downs Park West, Edward William, beloved brother of Olive and Charles. Service, Arno's Vale Cemetery, Thursday, December 23, 2.30 p.m.
Western Daily Press, Wednesday 22nd December 1937
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....The death of a Bristol man through a gunshot wound was the subject of the Bristol inquest yesterday on Edward William Fletcher (56), of Downs Park West, Henleaze, who died at the Bristol Royal Infirmary on December 18.
....A verdict of "Suicide while in a distressed condition of mind" was returned.
....Dr. W. M. Capper, of Bristol Royal Infirmary, said that Fletcher was admitted on December 17 and died the following day. A post-mortem examination showed a wound where a bullet had entered the forehead. There was blackening around the wound, showing that the shot had been fired at close quarters.
....The Coroner: Did he give any history of the wound?—I asked him how he got the wound, and he replied in the Boer War.
....Death was due to hypostatic pneumonia consequent upon laceration of the brain by a bullet.
....Another doctor said that he was called in on Friday morning last and found Mr Fletcher lying unconscious on the floor in a back bedroom.
...."There was a revolver lying by his knees, and there was a wound in the forehead." continued the doctor. "There was no sign of any disturbance having taken place." ....Charles Frank Fletcher, of Long Ashton, said that he saw his brother last Tuesday week and he seemed quite happy then.
....The Coroner: Was he worried or troubled at anything?—He was dangerously wounded in the South African War, shot in the head. He has been pensioned since. He also lost the use of his right arm and hand.
...."The revolver was presented to him when he went to South Africa, but I understood that it was lost. He appeared to be a bit depressed at times, but I put it down to his sister's bad health."
....A maid employed by Mr Fletcher said that her employer appeared quite normal on the Friday morning.
...."At 10.45 a.m. I went out of the room, and about ten minutes later heard a noise. I went to my mistress and she went to her brother's room, came out, and told me to telephone for the doctor.
....A verdict was returned as stated.
Western Daily Press, Thursday 23rd December 1937

Berenice
The only wounded "E.W.Fletcher" I could find in Palmer was "23515 L/Cp. E.W.Fletcher of 7th IY" who was dangerously wounded at Moedwil on 30/9/01. My IY CD has him with the 48th Coy., IY.
Some of the IY were presented with revolvers before going out to SA - so it could be him.
Regards
IL.

Hello Berenice

I think you have the right man.

23515 Edward William Fletcher / Stockbroker clerk
Previous service Bristol Engineer Volunteers.
Joined the 48th Company (North Somerset) 7th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.
Discharged medically unfit May 1902.
Reference note on papers, severely wounded. Looks like Moedwil?
QSA roll , Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and both date clasps.

Dave......

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....The following are the names of the men who have volunteered in the Imperial Yeomanry for the front, and who left Bath on Friday morning lor Aldershot. Another detachment is being made up this week.
....Arthur Bishop, railway porter, 4, Richardson-place, Widcombe. Father's name, William Bishop.
....Edward Wiiiiam Barnes, carpenter, Hardway, Bruton. Father's name, Edward Barnes.
....John Ernest Lewis Burt, commercial traveller, of Belgrave-terrace, Bath. Married; wife's name, Wilhelmina.
....Sydney Davey Carrier, bookbinder, 11, Avon-buildings, Twerton-on-Avon. Father's name, Henry Carrier.
....Philip Cecil Chapman, carpenter, 144, Cheitenham-road, Bristol. Father's name, James Chapman.
....Charles Cousen, no occupation, Willbury Cottags, South-road, Weston-super-Mare. Mother's name, Mary Cousen.
....Thomas Curtis, presser, 34, Oak-street. Lower Bristol-road. Fathers name, Charles Curtis.
....Frederick Dyer, sugar presser, Blenden Villa, Eve-road, Stapleton-road, Bristol. Fathers name, William.
....Edward William Fletcher, stockbroker's clerk, Tudor House, York-road, Montpelier, Bristol. Father's name, William Frank.
....Ernest Flower, shorthand clerk, Innisfare, Severn- road, Weston-super-Mare. Father's name, Alfred Edward.
....William Hand, mason, 43, West-avenue, Twerton. Wife's name, Julia.
....George Roger Mayne, farmer, Hern Farm, Botley,Southampton. Father's name, John.
....Reginald Morris, draper, Creamer, Bath-road, Exeter. Father's name, George.
....Frank Pearce, solicitor's clerk, Stoke Bishop, Bristol. Resides with a guardian.
....Thomas Perry, clerk, 461, Gloucester-road, Horfield, Bristol. Mother's name, Emma.
....Clifford Willis, paperhanger, 2, Highbury-villas, Cotham, Bristol. Father's name, Frederick.
Bath Chronicle, Thursday, 14th February, 1901
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. . ....The War Office yesterday afternoon issued the casualties among the rank and file in Kekewich's repulse of Delarey, in which engagement four officers were killed or died of wounds, and 22 officers were wounded, their names having been issued on Thursday night:—
....28th Battery Field Artillery had five non-commissioned officers and men killed, 10 wounded.
....1st Derbyshire Regiment.—Sixteen killed, 34 wonnded.
....27th Co. Imperial Yeomanry.—Ten killed, 10 wounded.
....48th Company Imperial Yeomanry.—Four killed, 12 wounded.
....1st Scottish Horse—20 wounded.
....2nd Scottish Horse—Four wounded.
....Scottish Horse, battalion not stated—10 killed, 24 wounded.
....Other regiments suffered minor casualties.
. ....The following are the local casualties:— ....Sergeant Charles Pettit, Sboeing-Smith Frederick Stevenson, 20764 Private William Robert Smith, 20166 Private George Smith. ....27345 Private J. Everled, Private D. Street, 23515 Private E. Fletcher. ....Private H. J. Cook, 404 Private W. Black, 409 W. Wirey, 356 Sergeant-Major T. Jordan, H. W. Pratt, 21180 Lance-Corporal C. E. Briggs, J. P. Lyle. ....23507 Private A. Bishop, 279 F. Pullen.
Western Daily Press, Saturday, 5th October, 1901
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....A number of men recruited at Cheltenham last January for the Imperial Yeomanry were attached to the 48th Company (North Somersets). The casualties of this Company were as follows [including]:—23515 Private E. Fletcher, dangerously wounded
The Gloucester Citizen, Saturday, 5th October, 1901
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....The undermentioned reported dangerously ill:—At Pietersburg, Nov. 2: 2nd Wilts Regiment, 5446 Private W. H. Nash, tuberculosis. At Krugersdorp, Nov. 1: 48th Company Imperial Yeomanry, 23815 Private E. W. Fletcher, gunshot wound. At Bloemfontein: 1st Dorset Regiment, Major R. A. G. Austin, abscess.
....Sapper J. Burke, of the Monmouth Militia, was reported missing from s.s. Victorian at sea on September 21.
Western Daily Press, Tuesday, 5th November, 1901