Sydney Hopewell Wright
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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 (J/F/M Radford), 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 (J/A/S Nottingham) and they had five children; Sydney was born in Carlton but his four sisters in Nottingham: Eleanor May b. 26 October 1896 bap. Nottingham St Ann 29 November 1896; Sydney Hopewell b. 1899 (O/N/D Basford), Hilda b. 6 February 1902, Dorothy Mary b. 28 November 1903 (reg. 1904 J/F/M Nottingham) 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 they were living at 102 Pym Street, Easthorpe, with their two children Eleanor (4) and Sydney (1). Henry (31) was a joinerIn 1911 the family was living at 142 Bathley Street, Meadows; Henry was still a joiner but also an employer. All five children were in the home on the night of the census: Eleanor May, a junior clerk, Sydney, Hilda (9), Dorothy (7) and Constance (4).The family home was at 126 Wilford Grove, Meadows, when Sydney enlisted in 1917 and this was still his parent's 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. 1 June 1890) in 1922 (O/N/D Nottingham. They 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 householdm possibly their daughter, remains closed. Eleanor may have died on 7 December 1952 (1953 J/F/M Scunthorpe Lincs).Hilda married Thomas Stephenson (b. 25 July 1901) in 1925 (O/N/D Nottingham); they had at least one child, Derek b. 28 April 1927 (A/M/J Barton upon Irwell Lancs). In 1939 the family was living in Stratford Lancashire. Tom was a factory manager and Hilda an ARP clerk; Derek was still at school. Hilda died on 29 December 1969 (O/N/D Bolton Lancs). Her son probably married Doris Caley in 1954 and they had at least one child, Derek P. (b. 1956).Dorothy Mary married Samuel Holland Bosworth (surname Bosworth or Holland-Bosworth) at West Bridgford St Giles on 16 September 1930 (Nottingham Evening Post notice 17 September). They probably had three children; Roger b. 14 August 1933, Cynthia M b. 1935 and Timothy b. 1938. In 1939 Dorothy and Samuel (b. 24 May 1905). a bank clerk, were living in West Bridgford. Their eldest son Roger (d. 2005 A/M/J Hereford) was recorded on the Register but the records of the two other children remain closed. Dorothy died in 1989 (Nov. Brighton Sussex) and Samuel in 1995 (Jan. Hove East Sussex).Constance Vera married Frederick Clarke Bovey in 1936 (J/A/S Basford). In 1939 she and Frederick (b. 1 July 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. Her husband died in 1975.
33rd Squadron Royal Air ForceSydney 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.He died at Red Barnes Hospital, Redcar, on 17 December 1918 of injuries sustained in a flying accident the previous day. He was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery (Oak. 10029) on 21 December.He had served for 261 days. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.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 and courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Inscription on family headstone, Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery: '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 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.
