Private Charles Fleet served in the Army Hospital Corps during the Victorian era and in the 1885 Egypt Campaign. He is entitled to the Egypt 1882 Medal with the Nile 1884-85 clasp, the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the Khedive’s Star. His enlistment number is 2133.
he was born in Bishop Waltham, Hants, United Kingdom on April 1845
He enlisted for 12 years in the Royal Artillery at Portsmouth, England on December 6th, 1864 at 1:50 pm. (yes the exact time at which he enlisted is written on the form)
Trade : baker Hair : brown Single
1861 : United Kingdom census taken at 3 Down Cottage, Meon Stoke Hampshire
According to the census he was born in 1846
Father : William (labourer) born in 1786 Mother : Susan born in 1806 Brother : Henry born in 1836
January 1 1869 : Transferred to the 21st Brigade Artillery
August 9th : Married Charlotte Lanodys
1871 United Kingdom census taken at The Herbert Hospital Kidbrooke London . Listed as a servant but probably more an orderly since it was a military hospital
July 2nd 1873 : Promoted acting Corporal
August 1st : Transferred to the Army Hospital Corps
September 22nd, 1875 : Promoted 2nd Corporal
I was unable to find trace of him and his family in the 1881 census
July 1st, 1883 : Awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
August 1st, 1884 : Promoted Corporal
January 7th, 1885 : Began his service in Egypt.
January 4th 1886 : Back to England
February 2nd : Retired only one month after his return
1891 : United Kingdom census taken at 11th Kenne street, St Giles, Reading, Berkshire
According to the census he was born in 1845 and listed as prison warden
Wife : Charlotte born 1847 Daughter : Emily (general servant) born 1878
Son : William jr (errand boy) born 1877 Daughter : Florence L. born 1887
March 1st, 1901 (census) : He is a prison warden in St Giles. Living at 3 Boult street in Reading, England with his wife Charlotte Fleet and his 14 years old daughter Florence L. Fleet
1920 : Died in Oxford (July- August- September)
If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.
A tribute to some women and men who served in armed conflicts 
Comments
This gentleman was one of Oscar Wilde’s warders at H.M. Prison Reading, most probably from the time James Nelson took over as governor in July 1896 until Wilde’s release on 19 May 1897. I have recently discovered an anonymous handwritten memoir of Wilde’s time in jail that is written by one of the warders at Reading. I believe it is likely to be the work of Fleet. The document was discovered among some uncatalogued materials at UCLA’s Clark Library. I am preparing a short essay and an edition of the memoir for the Library’s newsletter. I have also found an account book in which Wilde records that in his release he parted with several sums to three of his warders including Fleet. Thank you for your important work on Charles Fleet. Joseph Bristow, Distinguished Professor, UCLA