Private 203356 William Wright

Killed in Action on Saturday, 26th May 1917, age 24.
Buried in Grave II. B. 11. at Maroc British Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France.

1st/5th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 137th Brigade of 46th Division.
Formerly 20063 South Staffs Regiment.

Husband of Mrs Beatrice Wright of 271 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: West Bromwich, Enlisted: West Bromwich, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and St. Peter's, Greets Green memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/523759/

Genealogical Data

Birth of William Wright registered March quarter 1893 in West Bromwich.

1901 Census
7 Cophall Street, Great Bridge, West Bromwich, Staffs.
Annie Wright (28, Soap Wrapping, born West Bromwich), and her 4 children: Elizabeth (9, born West Bromwich), William (8, born West Bromwich), Samuel (5, born West Bromwich), and Joseph (1, born West Bromwich).
Note: Annie Wright is the same woman shown as Elizabeth Wright in 1911; she was Elizabeth Ann Wright (nee Barnfield).

1911 Census
11 Cophall Street, Great Bridge, West Bromwich, Staffs.
William Wright (40, Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Eilzabeth (38, born West Bromwich), and 6 of their 7 surviving children of 10: William (18, Iron Worker at Sheet Mill, born West Bromwich), Joseph (12, School, born West Bromwich), Eva (8, School, born West Bromwich), James (5, School, born West Bromwich), Tom (3, born West Bromwich), and Annie (6 months, born West Bromwich).

Marriage of William Wright and Beatrice Webb registered September quarter 1916 in Dudley. A daughter, Ellen Rachel, was born on 11th December 1916.

Personal Data

After WIlliam's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £3/10/7d (3 pounds, 10 shillings and 7 pence); this was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Elizabeth, in July 1917. His War Gratuity was £4/10/0d (4 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his mother in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that William had enlisted in March 1916. The payments were made to his mother who was described as his sole legatee, this probably shows that WIlliam nominated his mother when he enlisted, and never thought to change his nomination when he married a few months later.

WIlliam's widow, Beatrice, received a Pension Grant of £3/0/0d in July 1917, and then a Widow's Pension of 18/9d (18 shillings and 9 pence) per week for herself and her daughter, effective from 17th December 1917. Beatrice married John Pickerill in June quarter 1920. Her Widow's Pension would have ceased on re-marriage but she would have been compensated by the payment of a lump sum, usually the equivalent to a year's pension payments. The element of the pension for her daughter would have continued until her 16th birthday.

Action resulting in his death

In March 1917 the Division relieved the 24th Division in front of Lens in the Lievin sector, and it remained there for four months. During this time much hard fighting took place, which culminated in the attack on Lievin on July 1st, 1917. From the time the sector was taken over, the line was advanced an average of 2,000yards, and the ground captured a number of small mining villages and the important tactical point Hill 65.

On the 24th May the 1/6th North Staffs from the same 137th Brigade as Thomas had launched an attack to the north of Lens, near the Loos Crassier, with the objective of Nash and Netley trenches. This was successfully carried out, but German counter-attack was inevitable. This came during the night of the 24th/25th which was repulsed, but the morning brought a heavy bombardment followed up by a battalion strength German attack which forced the North Staffs out of the newly-captured positions.

It was during the support operations for this operation on 26th May that William Wright and Thomas Bell were killed in action, both are buried in Maroc British Cemetery just a few graves apart.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald June 30th 1917
Private William Wright of the South Staffords, eldest son of Mr and Mrs W. Wright, 11 Cophall Street, Great Bridge, who has been killed in action, leaves a widow and one child.

Tipton Herald July 7th 1917
CASUALTIES
Among recent casualty lists are as follows:-
Pte. J. Bell, South Staffs, killed.
Pte. W. Wright, South Staffs, killed.