John Wright
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Wright was born in the parish of Nottingham St Saviour and was the son of William and Charlotte Wright (née Richardson). His father William was born in about 1858 in Calverton, Nottinghamshire. His mother Charlotte was born in Plymouth, Devon, in 1860, the daughter of Vivian and Eliza Richardson. William and Charlotte were married at Radford St Peter, Nottingham, on 1 August 1880 and had 11 children, four of whom died in infancy or childhood. Nine children have been traced on the census between 1881 and 1901, the eldest of whom was born in Old Basford, the others in Nottingham: Eliza b. 1880 d. 1883, John b. 1886, Charles b. 1888, William birth registered 1891 (J/F/M) d. 1903 (J/F/M), Alfred b. 1892, George Vivian b. 21 September 1893, Minnie birth registered 1896 (J/F/M), Florence b. 1897 and Albert b. 1899. In 1881, the year after their marriage, William (23) a brass finisher, and Charlotte (21) a lace machinist, were living at 3 Thompson's Yard, Castle Gate, Nottingham, with their daughter, Eliza (1). Eliza died two years later aged about 3. William and Charlotte had moved to Hooton Street, Sneinton, by 1891 by which time they had three sons, John (4), Charles (2) and William (under one year). By 1901 the family was living on Stanley Terrace, Nottingham: William snr. and John (14) were both working as brass finishers (boiler injectors), Charles, William, Alfred (8), George (7) and Minnie (5) were of school age, Florence (3) and Albert (2). William jnr. died two years later in 1903 aged about 12. William and Charlotte had moved to 131 Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, by 1911. Six of their seven surviving children were still living at home: Charles a carter (general engineers), Alfred a hosiery machine fitter, George working in a confectionary warehouse, Minnie a blouse machinist, and Florence and Albert who were still at school. John had joined the army and was serving in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Charlotte died in October 1913. According to a newspaper report of John's death in June 1915, his home was at 17 Kinglake Street, Meadows, Nottingham.
2nd Bn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). John Wright enlisted at Nottingham. In 1911 he was serving with the 2nd Battalion in Tempe Bloemfontein, South Africa. He landed in France on 5th November 1914 and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle four months later on 10th March 1915. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, France (Panel 15 and 16). The Memorial is located at the east end of Le Touret Military Cemetery He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Le Touret Memorial (extract): 'The Le Touret Memorial commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave ... Almost all of the men commemorated on the Memorial served with regular or territorial regiments from across the United Kingdom and were killed in actions that took place along a section of the front line that stretched from Estaires in the north to Grenay in the south. This part of the Western Front was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting of the first year of the war, including the battles of La Bassée (10 October – 2 November 1914), Neuve Chapelle (10 – 12 March 1915), Aubers Ridge (9 – 10 May 1915), and Festubert (15 – 25 May 1915).'
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father William was his legatee.
