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This data is related to World War 1
Second Lieutenant

Sydney Hopewell Wright

Service number N/A
Military unit 104 Sqdn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Address 126 Wilford Grove, Meadows, Nottingham
Date of birth
Date of death 17 Dec 1918 (19 years old)
Place of birth Carlton Nottingham
Employment, education or hobbies

He was a clerk when he joined the RFC in November 1917.
Family history

Sydney Hopewell was the only son of Henry Albert and Elizabeth Wright (née Hopewell).

His father Henry Albert was born in Sneinton, birth registered 1871 (JFM), the son of Joseph and Ann Wright of Eldon Street, Sneinton. He was baptised at Sneinton St Stephen on 2 May 1871. His mother Elizabeth Hopewell was born in Nottingham.

Henry Albert and Elizabeth were married at Radford St Peter on 10 September 1895 and had five children, Sydney, who was born in Carlton, and four daughters who were born in Nottingham: Eleanor May b. 26 October 1896 bap. Nottingham St Ann 29 November 1896; Sydney Hopewell b. 1899, Hilda b. 6 February 1902, Dorothy Mary b. 28 November 1903 (reg. 1904 JFM) and Constance Vera b. 18 April 1907.

Henry and Elizabeth were living at 1 Monk Street, Nottingham, when their first child, Eleanor, was born in 1896 but by 1901 were living at 102 Pym Street, Easthorpe, with their two children Eleanor and Sydney (1). Henry was a joiner.

In 1911 the family was living at 142 Bathley Street, Meadows; Henry was still working as a joiner but was now an employer. All five children were in the home on the night of the census: Eleanor May, a junior clerk, Sydney, Hilda, Dorothy and Constance.

The family home was at 126 Wilford Grove, Meadows, when Sydney enlisted in 1917 and this was still his parents' home when the later CWGC record was compiled. However, by 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his parents were living at 11a Melbourne Road, West Bridgford; Henry was a retired master joiner. He died on 13 August 1943; the probate record gives his address as 11a Melbourne Road.

All four of Sydney's sisters married:

Eleanor May married Frank Burton (b. 1890) in 1922 and probably had one child, Sybil (b. 1924). In 1939 they were living at 33 Station Street, Nottingham; Eleanor's occupation was given as hotel keeper and her husband was a licensed victualler. The record of one other member of the household, possibly their daughter, remains closed. Eleanor may have died on 7 December 1952 (reg. 1953 JFM Scunthorpe Lincs).

Hilda married Thomas Stephenson (b. 1901) in 1925; they had at least one child, Derek (b. 1927 reg. Barton upon Irwell Lancs). In 1939 the family was living in Stratford, Lancashire. Tom was a factory manager and Hilda an ARP clerk; their son was still at school. Hilda died on 29 December 1969 (reg. Bolton Lancs).

Dorothy Mary married Samuel Holland Bosworth (surname Bosworth or Holland-Bosworth) at West Bridgford St Giles on 16 September 1930 (Nottingham Evening Post, 17 September). They probably had three children; Roger b. 1933, Cynthia M b. 1935 and Timothy b. 1938. In 1939 Dorothy and Samuel (b. 1905), a bank clerk, were living in West Bridgford. Their eldest son Roger was recorded on the Register but two closed records are probably those of the two younger children. Dorothy died in 1989 (reg. Brighton Sussex); she predeceased her husband.

Constance Vera married Frederick Clarke Bovey in 1936. In 1939 she and Frederick (b. 1912) were living in West Bridgford; Frederick was a journeyman joiner. Constance died on 22 December 1969; the probate record gives her address as Oxley, Wolverhampton. She predeceased her husband.

Military history

33rd Squadron Royal Air Force

Sydney Hopewell Wright enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 6 November 1917 (110014 Private) but transferred to the Royal Air Force under the provision of the Air Force (Constitution) Act 1917. He was appointed to a temporary commission (second lieutenant), authority letter dated 20 August 1918.

Sydney died in Red Barnes Hospital, Redcar, on 17 December 1918 of injuries sustained in a flying accident the previous day. He had served for 261 days. He was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery (Oak. 10029) on 21 December. The Cemetery has 79 (CWGC) scattered burials of the First World War and 20 (CWGC) from the Second World War. The Cross of Sacrifice is located near the main entrance.

A court of inquiry concluded, 'The cause of the accident, in our opinion, was an error of judgement on the part of the Pilot, who stalled on a gliding turn just before landing.'[1][1] Casualty Card, Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon. Courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918'

He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Extra information

CWGC Additional information: Son of Henry Albert and Elizabeth Wright, of 126, Wellford (sic) Grove, Nottingham.

Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery, inscription on family headstone: 'To the dear memory of Lieut Sydney Hopewell Wright, RAF, (-), who died through injuries received whilst flying at Redcar, Dec 17th 1918.'

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 18, 19 & 20 December 1918: ‘Wright. On December 17th, at the Military Hospital, Redcar, Lieut. Sydney Hopewell, RAF, the dearly loved and only son of Henry Albert and Elizabeth Wright, of 126 Wilford-grove aged 19 years. Vanished hopes.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 17 December 1919: ‘Wright. To the dear memory of our beloved and only son and brother, Lieut. Sydney Hopewell, RAF, who died December 17th, 1918, through injuries received whilst flying at Redcar on December 16th, 1918 aged 19 years. An untold loss.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Probate: Wright Sydney Hopewell of 126 Wilford-grove Nottingham second-lieutenant HM Army died 17 December 1918 at Red Barnes Hospital Redcar Yorkshire Administration Nottingham 20 May to Henry Alfred Wright builder. Effects £112 12s. 8d.

Probate: Wright Henry Albert of 11a Melbourne Road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire died 13 August 1943 probate Nottingham 15 October to William Hector Dalby solicitors cashier and Stephen Allen grocer. Effects £4660 18s. 10d.

Photographs
Sydney Hopewell Wright Sydney Hopewell Wright Photograph courtesy of his great nephew, Paul Stephenson
Sydney Hopewell Wright Sydney Hopewell Wright Photograph courtesy of his great nephew, Paul Stephenson
Sydney Hopewell Wright Sydney Hopewell Wright Photograph courtesy of his great nephew, Paul Stephenson
Sydney Hopewell Wright Sydney Hopewell Wright Photograph courtesy of his great nephew, Paul Stephenson
Elizabeth Wright and Sydney Elizabeth Wright and Sydney Sydney and his mother at 126 Wilford Grove, Meadows, Nottingham. Photograph courtesy of his great nephew, Paul Stephenson.
Henry Albert and Elizabeth Wright and daughter Hilda Stephenson (née Wright) Henry Albert and Elizabeth Wright and daughter Hilda Stephenson (née Wright) Photograph courtesy of Sydney's great nephew, Paul Stephenson.
Henry Albert Wright c.1895-1900 Henry Albert Wright c.1895-1900 Photograph courtesy of Sydney's great nephew, Paul Stephenson.
Henry Albert Wright Henry Albert Wright Henry Albert Wright at 11 Melbourne Road Nottingham. Photograph courtesy of Sydney's great nephew, Paul Stephenson.
Sydney Wright's grandmother, late 1880s Sydney Wright's grandmother, late 1880s Photograph courtesy of Sydney’s great nephew, Paul Stephenson.
Hilda Stephenson née Wright c.1918 Hilda Stephenson née Wright c.1918 Photograph courtesy of Sydney's great nephew, Paul Stephenson.
Sydney's service bible Sydney's service bible Bible with a dedication to Sydney's sister Hilda. Photograph courtesy of his great nephew, Paul Stephenson.
Sydney Hopewell Wright Sydney Hopewell Wright Family headstone Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. Photograph Rachel Farrand (July 2012)
Sydney Hopewell Wright Sydney Hopewell Wright Dedication to Sydney on family grave, Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. Photograph Rachel Farrand (July 2012)

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