Fleck, Daniel Leitch McPherson 839568 (1884 - 1918)

Private, 44th Bn. Canadian Infantry

Buried at Fouqescourt British Cemetery

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Private Daniel L. McP. Fleck was the fourth son of the late Rev. W. S. Fleck, M.A., Fairlie, Ayrshire. He was educated at Fairlie School, and later, from 1893 to 1900, at Hillhead High School.

On leaving School he was for a time in the office of Agar, Cross & Co., merchants, Glasgow, but in 1903 he went to Canada and settled as a farmer at Virden, Manitoba. There he was widely known and highly respected. In 1915 he enlisted as a private in the 179th Cameron Highlanders, which was afterwards merged in the 44th Infantry Battalion.

After long periods of training in various camps in Canada and England he went to France in February, 1917. He came safely through the hurricane fighting for Vimy Ridge in April of that year, but was wounded by shrapnel near Sens soon after. He was in hospital in this country for a time, but made a good recovery and returned to France in November.

During the great German Push in the spring of 1918 he saw much fighting and had many hairbreadth escapes. During the British advance in
July and August, 1918, his battalion was hotly engaged for weeks on end, and on the 10th of August Private Fleck was shot through the head by a sniper while looking after the wounded. High tributes were paid to his character and influence by his officers and comrades, who regardedhim a man to be implicitly trusted in times of stress and trial.

He leaves a Widow in Virden to mourn his loss, and to her the tenderest sympathy of the School is extended.