Trafford

Born on the 19th September 1877 at Edinburgh, the son of David Flett a
Solicitor of Edinburgh, and Eleanora Scott Cockburn Flett (nee Scott
Cockburn Beenie).

1881 Census - "South Bank", 52 St Albans Road, Edinburgh.  Son - aged: 3 -
born: Edijnburgh.  Head of household - David Flett - Married - aged: 57 -
occ: Solicitor - born: Kirkwall, Orkney.  Also Eleanor S.C. Flett - Wife -
aged: 38 - occ: Solicitor - born: Edinburgh.  Plus 5 siblings and 3
domestic servants.

1891 Census - St. Mary the Less, Cambridge.  Pupil - aged: 13 - born:
Edinburgh, Scotland.

1901 Census - 52 St Albans Road, Edinburgh.  Son - aged: aged: 23 - occ:
Insurance Clerk - born: Edinburgh.   Head of household - David Flett -
Married - aged: 77 - occ: Retired Solicitor - born: Kirkwall, Orkney.  Also
Eleanor S.C. Flett - Wife - aged: 58 - born: Edinburgh.  Plus 6 siblings
and 3 domestic servants.

1911 Census - 5 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh with mother and two brothers
and working as an Insurance Inspector.

Educated at Craigmount, Edinburgh and The Leys, Cambridge.  Employed as
Insurance Inspector with the Scottish Provident Institution.

He was a well known Rugby Footballer and at one time played for the
Edinburgh Wanderers Football Club.  He had seven siblings, one  of his
elder brothers was Dr. A. B. Flett who was a Scottish International and an
ex-President of the Scottish Football Union.

John volunteered for service at the outbreak of WW1 and was gazetted 2nd
Lieutenant in the Royal Scots on 17 September 1914.   His MIC states that
he was posted to Gallipoli on the 7th August 1915.

A draft of 12 officers and 440 other ranks arrived at Gallipoli on the 3rd
September 1915.  Moved into the firing line just west of East Krithia
Nullah on the 6th and into the Eski Line on the 10th.  Relieved and into
rest camp on the 19th.  Back into the firing line in the Clunes Vennel
Sector on the 27th.

On the 10th October they were relieved from front line duty and went back
to their rest camp.  Into the firing line again, right of The Vineyard -
Nelson Avenue and Govan Road on the 17th.  To rest camp on the 1st
November.  To the firing line again on the 7th west of East Krithia Nullah.
 The enemy had trebled their barbed wire defences since their last tour of
this section.  The Turks fired 3 aerial torpedoes at them on the 10th, but
caused no damage.  Their positions at Renfield Street, Albion Road and
Clunes Venel were bombed on the 12th.   Some 20 aerial torpedoes fired by
the enemy on the 13th, but only half exploded.  On the 15th November Nos. 1
& 2 Companies attacked on Trench H11A opposite Russel's Loop and after much
hand to hand fighting captured the objective.

Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton for gallant and
distinguished service in the field. 

His death was reported in the 23/11/1915 edition of the Dundee Evening
Telegraph & Post.

Both his two younger brothers were killed in World War 1.

Lieutenant Arthur David Flett, born in 1880, was in the 16th Battalion,
Royal Scots. He died on 9th April 1917 and is buried at Bailleul Road East
Cemetery, St Laurent-Blangy, Pas de Calais, France.

Lieutenant William Henry Flett, born in 1882, was in 6th Battalion, Black
Watch, Royal Highlanders. He died on 19th April 1916 and is buried at
Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France. He was awarded
the Military Cross.