No.4450, Private, William Weston WRIGHT
Aged 20
Born in Risby 2nd qtr 1896 Thingoe 4a:787, son of Walter George and Phoebe Annie WRIGHT (née PETTIT)
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Ivy Lodge, Risby with his father Walter George WRIGHT [42] butcher, born Gazeley; his mother Phoebe A [38] born Hargrave; sister Sissie [8], brothers Reginald W [9], George [6], Edwin O [2] and Harry K [9 months]. All the children were born in Risby. 1911 census...Aged 14, he was at 4 Barn Lane, Bury St.Edmunds with his parents; sisters Sissie, Annie [7] and Irene [3] ( the only child born in Bury St.Edmunds); brothera George [16]fishmonger's errand boy, Harry [10] and Leonard [4]. His brother George was killed in Belgium in 1915 see here |
He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
From Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" we learn that on the 18th, not long before zero hour, Capt Ling was wounded and still later Lt Hume MC , entailing important changes in command. Capt Ling did stay in the trenches until the attack was over neithre battalion on the left or the right was able to make progress, but the 4th Suffolks in the centre pressed on. For a short 2 Coys occupied Wood Lane Trench, but lack of support and when 2/Lt Bedwell ( the only officer to reach the trench) was killed, it was impossible to hold out. Their problems having been compounded by having just had 4 days in the front line.>br> Casualties were 3 officers and 33 ORs killed, 2 officers and 108 ORs wounded and 50 ORs missing. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |