Henry Gordon Wright

Henry Gordon was the son of Thomas and Mary Moises Wright (née Sang). Thomas was an architect and surveyor on his own account. His father was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, in about 1850. His mother was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1858 (J/A/S Newcastle), the daughter of William Sang. They were married at Nottingham All Saints on 30 June 1874 and had nine children who were all born in Nottingham: Caroline Moises b. 2 January 1876 bap. St Nicholas 8 February 1876; Bessie Mary b. 11 February 1877 bap. St Nicholas 15 April 1877; Thomas Ernest b. 11 September 1878 bap. St Nicholas 13 October 1878; Evelyn Fanny b. 16 August 1880 bap. St Nicholas 26 May 1880; Edward Leslie b. 21 February 1882 bap. St Nicholas 22 March 1882; William John b. 1884 bap. All Saints 4 June 1884; Henry Gordon b. 28 May 1886 bap. Holy Trinity 23 June 1886; Octavia Grace b. 5 November 1888 bap. Holy Trinity 2 December 1888 and Amy Kathleen b. 27 September 1890 bap. Holy Trinity 22 October 1890. Thomas and Mary were living at 1 Alma Terrace when their daughters Caroline and Bessie were baptised and at 8 Forest Grove when their next two children were baptised in 1878 and 1880. Thomas and Mary moved house frequently and by 1881 they were living at 16 Balmoral Road, Nottingham, on Clinton Avenue by the time of Octavia's baptism in 1888 and then at Hamilton Road in 1891. However, by 1901 the family home was at 77 Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, where Thomas and Mary were still living in 1911 with just three of their nine children, Thomas, an architect's assistant who was working with his father, and Octavia and Kathleen who were both day governesses. At the time of the 1911 census, Henry, a bank clerk, was working in Southwell and living at a boarding house, Trinity Villa, Westgate, Southwell, in the household of Ann Love. He later moved to a branch of the bank in Sutton-in-Ashfleld where he lived at Charnwood Street, Alfreton Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield. According to a report of his death in a local paper, Henry had only been at the bank a very short time before he was mobilized. His parents were still living at 77 Loughbrough Road when their son Thomas was discharged from the army in 1919 but were at 115 Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, when Henry's CWGC record was compiled later. Thomas snr. was living in Ruddington when he died on 30 April 1926. Probate was awarded to his son William John, a clerk in holy orders, and his son-in-law Stanley Yorke Williams, the husband of his daughter Evelyn. His widow, Mary, was still living in Ruddington when she died two years later on 2 November 1928. Probate was awarded to her unmarried daughters Bessie and Octavia. Of Henry Gordon's siblings: Caroline Moises married (Smith), date of marriage not yet traced and she may have married in India. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled she was widowed and living in Esher, Surrey. Caroline was living in Worthing when she died on 16 December 1961. Bessie Mary was a nurse at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary in 1901. She has not been traced after that date until her death on 9 December 1956. She was then living at Belmont, Morton common, Brading, Isle of Wight; this was the same address as her sister, Kathleen, who had died in 1953. Probate was awarded to her sister, Octavia. Thomas Ernest was living with his parents at 77 Loughborough Road when he attested on 18 December 1915; his occupation was given as architect's assistant. He was mobilized on 2 June 1916 and discharged from the 357th (HS) Coy, Labour Corps (195774 Private) in February 1919. He was discharged to 77 Loughborough Road. Evelyn Fanny married Stanley Yorke Williams in 1910 and in 1911 they were living in Penzance, Cornwall; her husband was a bank cashier. She was still living in Penzance in 1939 but was now widowed. Also in the household was her unmarried daughter, Ruth (b. 16 December 1916), a school teacher. Evelyn was living at Flat 5, 47 St Catherine's Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, when she died on 11 December 1969; she had probably lived with her unmarried sister Octavia who had died in March that year. Edward Leslie, an architect, was living in Cardiff in 1911. He married Ethel Mary Elliott in July 1911. He served in the army and died of wounds on 3 July 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour). William John married Isabella Annie Driver in 1910 (J/A/S) at Plympton St Mary, Devon, and in 1911 they were living in Crownhill, Devon. They had at least one child, William Henry Laurence (b. 1911, J/A/S), who also took holy orders, and possibly a daughter, Isabel Mary. William died on 26 December 1946; he was then living at The Vicarage, Holt Wimbourne, Dorset. Octavia Grace, organising secretary for the Church of England Jerrard Missionary Society, was living at 20 Kirk Lane, Ruddington, with her sister Kathleen, a retired private governess, in 1939. She was living at Flat 5, 47 St Catherine's Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, when she died on 21 March 1969; she had probably lived with her widowed sister Evelyn (Williams) who died in December the same year. Kathleen Amy, a retired private governess, was living at 20 Kirk Lane, Ruddington, with her sister Octavia in 1939. She died on 21 March 1953; she was then living at Belmont, Morton Common, Brading, Isle of Wight, the same address as her sister Bessie who died three years later in 1956. Probate was awarded to Kathleen's unmarried sisters, Bessie and Octavia.

He was employed by the Nottingham and Notts Bank, first as a junior, and afterwards at the Southwell branch. He was working at Sutton in Ashfield when war was declared.

He enlisted at Southwell in Nottinghamshire into the Territorials in 1910 and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters on 14th February 1912. He was mobilized in August 1914 and promoted captain. He served from 1st March 1915 in France and Flanders when the battalion was in action at Kemmel from 14th April 1915. Henry was shot and killed on 6th June 1915 at Locre. He was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery (grave ref. D.60). A memorial service was held at St Saviour's Church, Meadows, Nottingham, on Saturday 12 June. The history of the 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters records that, 'Capt. H. G. Wright, to the great regret of his friends in all ranks was killed on June 6th, being shot through the double loophole plate from which he was firing.' (Source: 'The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919, 1/8th Battalion', p56) This is corroborated in a letter from Lt CL Hill, 8th Bn, to a friend in June 1915, in which he wrote, 'You will already have heard of Wright's death. We had just finished sniping from a loophole and a shot came through both holes of the double loophole and shattered his whole head. The trench was only 30 yards away.' (Source: 'Family at War: The Foljambe family and the Great War', Brig Jolyon Jackson, 2010, ISBN 978 1 84425 943 2) Research Simon Williams

One of his brothers, Driver Edward Leslie Wright, 594th Mechanical Transport Company Army Service Corps, attached X Corps Heavy Artillery, died on 3rd July 1917 of wounds received earlier that day. He is buried in Bus House Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Mansfield Reporter, 11 June 1915: ‘Captain H Gordon Wright, of The Old Sutton Company Killed. Died A Soldier’s Death. We regret to announce the death of Captain HG Wright, of the old Sutton Company of ‘Terriers’, which occurred at the front on Sunday morning, whilst in action. As to the details of the sad occurrence we are at present not in possession of any, the bare fact of his death having reached us through Lieutenant Torrence, the Quarter-master of the 8th Sherwood Foresters, who writing from ‘somewhere in Belgium,’ says in a letter to Major WN Savll at this office:- ‘I am afraid I have to give you a very great shock formally, and also some of your readers, as it is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of Captain HG Wright, of the old Sutton Company. He was killed in action on Sunday morning, and I hope the sorrow of his relatives and friends will be lessened by the knowledge that he died a ‘soldier’s death, fighting for his King and country.’ His death has cast a deep gloom over us all, and he will always live in our memory, as a true friend and a gallant and capable soldier, and one whom we shall find it hard to replace. He had gained the respect and confidence of his men, and one to whom they could turn to for advice and sympathy no matter what their trouble. We still keep on doing our little bit here to the best of our ability, ad hope those at home who are called on to make sacrifices out of the ordinary will cheerfully give of their best, and thus enable us to assist in bringing this great struggle to a successful end. Mansfield and Sutton have I know done very well, but still I think they could do better, and if an incentive is wanted, what better one could they have than the gallantry and devotion displace by their own local lads in all branches of His Majesty’s Forces.’ The deceased officer was the son of Mr Thomas Wright, architect, 77, Loughborough-road, West Bridgford. He was 35 years of age. As a junior he entered the Nottingham and Notts. Bank at the head office, afterwards going to Southwell, and later to Sutton, where he was for three hours prior to enlisting. He was a member of the Sutton Conservative Club.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Article published 12th June 1915 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- “CAPT. H. G. WRIGHT. “Death at the Front of a West Bridgford Architect's Son. “Much regret is felt at Sutton-in-Ashfield at the death of Captain Henry Gordon Wright, son of Mr. Thomas Wright, architect, of 77, Loughborough-road, West Bridgford. “Captain Wright entered the head office of the Nottingham and Notts. Banking Company as a junior clerk, and afterwards was engaged in the company’s service at Southwell. “In conveying the news of his death, Lieutenant and Quartermaster Torrence, of the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, says: “His death cast quite a gloom over us all. He will always live in our memories as a true friend and as a gallant and capable soldier, and one whom we shall find it hard to replace. He was one who gained the respect and confidence of his men, and was an officer to whom they could turn for advice and sympathy.” “Captain Wright was 30 years age, and was not married.” Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, 14 June 1915: ‘The Late Captain HG Wright. A memorial service was held on Saturday in St Saviour’s Church, Nottingham, in connection with the death of Captain Henry Gordon Wright, son of Mr Thomas Wright, 77, Loughborough-road, West Bridgford. Captain Wright was shot through the head by a sniper. An extremely sad circumstance is the fact that he was engaged to be married to Miss Gwen Pratt, daughter of Mr WD Pratt, of Bleasby, and arrangements were made for the wedding to take place, a month ago, but the young officer was then unable to obtain leave.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 25 June 1915. Captain Wright was mentioned in a letter written by Private Albert E Armitage of the 8th Bn (k. 15 June 1915), who wrote home a few days before his death, ‘I think I told you that Captain Wright was killed last Sunday. I believe I am to be the observer for the Captain who has taken his place.’ Lieut. Handford who wrote to Pte Armitage’s mother, said ‘He was Captain Wright’s most valued man.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Wright Henry Gordon of Charnwood-street Alfreton-road Sutton-in-Ashfield Nottinghamshire a captain in HM Army died 6 June 1915 at Kemmel Belgium Adminstration (with Will) Nottingham 2 July to Thomas Wright architect. Effects £356 6s. 10d.