WRIGHT, Charles


No.15805, Private, Charles WRIGHT
Aged 26


7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action presumed on Monday, 3rd July 1916


Charles Wright was born in Wickhambrook,(Risbridge Q1-1890 4A:690), baptised in Wickhambrook on 30th March 1890, son of James and Emily WRIGHT (née CUTTS).
His father already had 2 sons and 4 daughters by Harriet (née CRACK), before marrying Emily CUTTS in 1885

1891 census...Aged 1, he was at Shop Hill, Wickhambrook with his father James WRIGHT [47] farm labourer born Wickhambrook; his mother Emily [30] born Stradishall; his half brother Harry [17] telegraph messenger born Stradishall; sister Elizabeth [4] born Wickhambrook.

1901 census...Aged 11, he was at Shop Hill with his parents (father now road labourer, recorded as 53 and mother recorded as 43); half brother Harry (parcel carrier); sisters Nellie May [8], Hetty [7] and Violet [1], all three girls born in Wickhambrook.

1911 census...Aged 21, a brick layer's labourer, he was at Shop Hill with his parents and sisters Violet and Lily [8] born Wickhambrook. His mother had lost one of her 7 children.

CWGC have his widowed mother at 133 West Road, Cambridge Town, Shoeburyness, Essex.


He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds in November 1914.
The 1st Battle of the Somme started in 1st July 1916, the worst day in British military history, 60,000 casualties of which around 20,000 were killed. The 7th Suffolks were not involved that day, their horror came on the 3rd.They moved into support trenches from Henencourt Wood early in the morning and than, together with the 5th R. Berkshires attacked Ovillers. Under heavy fire they reached the enemy's third line, some of them actually entering the village. Then, with all company commanders killed, they were brought to a standstill and forced to retire, with over 450 casualties. CWGC puts the deaths at 155, of which 111 have no known grave.

His medal index card gives him dying of his wounds, but all other records indicate killed in action.All the same card records him as Lance Corporal, this must have been his acting rank, since the card is annotated to have Pte engraved on his medals.



Charles Wright is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial, pier and face 1C/2A

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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