Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Henry William Wright was born on the 2nd October 1881 in Dorking, Surrey, to coachman William Wright and Annie Elizabeth Wright nee Markham. He was baptised on the 27th of November 1881 at St Paul’s church in Dorking, Surrey. At the time of the baptism the family lived in Falkland Road and William was working as a coachman.
Henry William’s father William Wright was born about 1855 in Woodmansterne, Surrey to agricultural labourer John Wright, born about 1822 in Wotton, Surrey and Sarah Wright, born about 1917 in Gatton, Surrey. William was baptised on the 30th of May 1855 in Woodmansterne, Surrey. His mother, Annie Elizabeth Markham was born in the 2nd quarter of 1852 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire to saddler Louis Thomas Markham, born about 1828 in Simpson, Buckinghamshire and Elizabeth Markham, born about 1825 in Buckinghamshire. William Wright and Annie Elizabeth Markham married, by Banns, on the 3rd of November 1880 at St Paul’s Church in Dorking. At the time of their wedding the couple lived in Falkland Road, Dorking and William was working as a coachman.
Henry had one sibling: Frederick John, born about 1886 in Dorking. At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived in Station Road, Dorking. William was still working as a coachman and Annie was at home looking after their sons.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 32 Church Street, Dorking. William was working as a grocer’s assistant and Annie was at home. The household further comprised of their children: builder’s clerks Henry and Frederick.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at Hill View, 11 Arundel Road, Dorking. William was working as a furniture dealer’s porter and Annie was at home. The household further comprised of their children: builder’s clerk Henry and engineer’s clerk Frederick. The house had seven rooms.
Henry Wright enlisted in September 1914 in Guildford into the 7th Battalion, of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was a Private with regimental number S/774. At the time of his enlistment he resided in Dorking. Henry quickly obtained his promotion to non-commissioned ranks. He disembarked on the 27th of July 1915 in France.
At the time of his death he was a Sergeant.
Henry Wright was killed in action on the 1st of July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in France.
Henry’s body was exhumed and reburied at the Combles Communal Cemetery Extension in France. His grave reference number is: III.E.19. His body was identified by the disc and titles.
“Henry William Wright saw service with the C.I.V. in the Boar War. In civil life Sergeant Wright was for 16 years with Messrs. Trollope and Colls, and though he had been long absent from home it is a pathetic incident that his favourite collie dog “Bob” was unusually restless during the fortnight’s suspense as to the fate of its master and only seemed contended when permitted to lie at the back door.” (1916 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser)
He received the British War and Victory medals and the 1915 Star.
Henry’s father William received £12 and 15s on the 9th of November 1916 and a further £11 on the 26th of September 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
| Born | Dorking | |
| Lived | Dorking | |
| Son of | Mr. W and Mrs A.E. Wright of “Hillsview” Arundel Road, Dorking, Surrey | |
| Regiment | 7th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | S/774 | |
| Date of Death | 1st July 1916 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 35 | |
| Cemetery | Combies Communal Cemetery Extension, France |
