Reginald Joseph Wright

Reginald Joseph enlisted in March 1917 and served in France from the August that year following a period of leave. He was admitted to an Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 11 October 1917 with severe shrapnel wounds to the abdomen, thigh, leg and arm; it was thought that he had been lying on the battlefield for some time before being rescued. He died at 7pm the same day and was buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. V.A.5). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - Nine Elms British Cemetery (extract): 'The cemetery was begun and used by the 3rd Australian and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations when they moved to Poperinghe (now Poperinge), from Brandhoek and Lijssenthoek respectively, in September 1917. Nearly all the burials in Plots I to IX came from these Casualty Clearing Stations, whilst they operated in this area during the 1917 Battle of Ypres, up until December 1917.'

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'His end was peace' Mansfield Reporter, 2 November 1917: ‘Another Pleasley Soldier Killed. Private R Wright. News has been received by Mr and Mrs JT Wright, Hill House, Pleasley Hill, that their son, Private RJ Wright, KOYLI, died of shrapnel wounds received on the 11th of October, 1917, in France. Pte. Wright joined up in March, 1917, and was drafted to Hornsea for four months, and then went to train at Chelmsford. He came home on leave in August and went to France the third week in that month. He was well-known in Pleasley Hill, and was a worker at St Barnabas’ Church, holding several officers. He passed through the Sunday School, and was a member of the Choir, and was thorough in every duty he had to perform. He attended the Pleasley Hill Council School and the Brunts Technical School, Mansfield, afterwards working for Mr Sills. He attended the Evening Classes at the Rosemary School, and became a clerk in the office of Messrs. Wm. Hollins and Co., where he was well-known as a footballer and gave promise of making a fine player. A thoroughly reliable young man, he will be greatly missed in the village. The following are copies of letters received by the parents: ACCS, BEF, 13 October, 1917. ‘Dear Mrs Wright, I much regret to have to tell you that your son Reginald was brought in here on the 11th, wounded severely in the abdomen, thigh, leg and arm. He was so very cold and weak. I think he must have been left on the battlefield a long time. Our surgeons and the nurses did all they could for him, but he passed away the same day. I had some conversation with him, but he was too weak to send any special message. He just asked me to write to you and his father and send his love. We laid his body to rest in Nine Elms Cemetery. His belonging will reach you in due course, but that may not be for a month. I can only pray that God may grant you a right judgement to bear you loss without resentment, knowing that no brave, loving soul can be in any wa a loser by migrating from a world of strife and sorrow to a life of progress and enlightenment, and that though the will of the enemy has caused the destruction of this earthly body, yet that is the limit of his power, and it is the will of God to save the life out of this destruction, and to clothe it anew and give it a dwelling-place far beyond the reach of an enemy’s malice, where men evermore rejoice in God’s holy comfort. I pray that you also may find joy in that same comfort. With deepest sympathy with yourself and all your son’s loved ones. Yours sincerely ES Muschamp, Chaplain’ Australian CCS, BEF, 22nd Oct., 1917. ‘Dear Mrs Wright, I am writing to tell you about your son, Pte, RJ Wright, 36487, KOYLI. He was brought into this hospital on the 11th, about midday very collapsed and almost unconscious, suffering from several wounds in the abdomen, right arm, right thigh and left leg. Everything was immediately done to try and revive him, but he did not rally at all, and died that same evening at 7pm. I am afraid it is so little to tell you, but it might be some comfort to you to know that he was in hospital where he received every care and attention, and that he was relieved of all his pain. I told him not to worry, and that I would write and let you know that he was wounded. So he sent his love to all, and told me not to say anything that would worry you. He was buried in a Military Cemetery at Nine elms, near Poperinghe, and if there is anything further with regard to the grave that you wish to know you can write to the Officer-in-charge, GRU, War Office, as they are in charge of all the soldiers’ graves in France. All his small personal belongings will eventually be sent to you by the War Office, as his next of kin. I am, yours faithfully, Ida O Duner, Sister-in-Charge.’ (britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)