Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Henry William Wright was born on 2nd October 1881 in Dorking, Surrey, to coachman William and Annie Elizabeth (nee Markham). He was baptised on 27th November 1881 at St Paul’s church in Dorking. At the time of the baptism the family lived in Falkland Road.
Henry’s father William was born about 1855 in Woodmansterne, Surrey to agricultural labourer John, born about 1822 in Wotton, Surrey and Sarah, born about 1917 in Gatton, Surrey. His mother, Annie was born in the 2nd quarter of 1852 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire to saddler Louis Thomas, born about 1828 in Simpson, Buckinghamshire and Elizabeth, born about 1825 in Buckinghamshire. William and Annie married on 3rd November 1880 at St Paul’s Church. 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 27th July 1915 in France.
Henry Wright was killed in action on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in France. At the time of his death he was a Sergeant.
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.
SERGT. H. W. WRIGHT
(Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regt.)
Sergt. Harry William Wright, who was killed on July 1st, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Wright, of Hillview, Arundel Road, Dorking. He saw service with the C.I.V. in the Boer War; and he joined the Queen’s in September, 1914, and quickly obtained his promotion to non-commissioned rank. In civil life Sergt. Wright was for 16 years with Messrs. Trollope and Colls, and thought 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 contented when permitted to lie at the back door.
Harry Wright Death Notice 29th July 1916 © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
WRIGHT – Killed in action on July 1st, Sergeant Harry William Wright, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, dearly beloved eldest son of William and Elizabeth Wright of Hillview, Arundel Road, Dorking, aged 35 years.
MR. AND MRS. WRIGHT of Hillview, Arundel Road, Dorking wish to thank all kind friends for their expressions of sympathy in their recent great bereavement.
Harry Wright Death Notice – 7th August 1916 © Surrey Advertiser
AN “EXCELLENT SOLDIER”
In our last issue we recorded the death in action of Sergt. Harry Wright, of the Queen’s R. W. S. Regt. A letter has since been received from his Adjutant, who says: “Sergt. Wright was killed very early in the action in the action (on July 1st), probably before or just after he reached the front German trench. His company commander wishes me to say that although he was so unfortunately killed at such an early stage of the fight, he nevertheless did really excellent work when commanding his platoon previous to the actual time of attack, and I also know that he was a really excellent soldier and a very valuable N. C. O., whose death is sincerely regretted, and whose presence is badly missed in the Battalion”
Harry Wright Letter – 7th August 1916 © Surrey Advertiser
He received the British War and Victory medals and the 1915 Star. Henry’s father William received £12 and 15s on 9th November 1916 and a further £11 on 26th 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 |
