Lieutenant William Richard Wright

From Appleby College First Hockey team 1913

Appleby College, 540 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, Ontario, L6K 3P1, Canada 43.4262, -79.6857 Notes: Individuals pictured from left to right include: (standing) D.R. Macdonald, A.H. Gillespie, W.R. Wright, R.H. Massey, F.R.L. Lazier, (seated) A. de V.A. Turquand, captain J.W. Gillespie, and A.D. McLaren.

From Somewhere in France: The WWI letters of Lt. Parr Hooper 2. Oxford: October 3–November 2, 1917

The nineteen year old brother (and youngest child) was William Richard Wright, a student at the University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, ON M5S 1A1 Canada, 43.66167, -79.39500 before he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force early in 1917; he died 13 May 1917.

From Fold3 19160527 service record William Richard Wright b 18980408 Ottawa Canada 663943590

• Full Name: William Richard Wright
• Regiment Number: 490808
• Birth Place: Ottawa, Canada
• Birth Date: 8 April 1898
• Conflict Period: World War I
• Served for: Canada

From Somewhere in France: WWI Letter of Lt. Parr Hooper. Endnotes.

99 For William Richard Wright’s date of birth and occupation, see his “Officers’ Declaration Paper” at Ancestry.com, Canada, Soldiers of the First World War, 1914–1918, record for William Richard Wright. For his date of death and burial site, see Veterans Affairs Canada, “In memory of Lieutenant William Richard Wright,” which also provides a brief biography and photos.

From Lieutenant William Richard Wright | War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF

William Richard Wright – Born in Ottawa, William Wright was one of Appleby’s original students, having followed founding Headmaster John Guest from Upper Canada College. While at Appleby he played on the First Rugby (Football), Hockey and Cricket teams. Upon graduating from Appleby in 1916, he at once enlisted in the Fifth University Company, and on going overseas obtained a commission in the 35th Battalion. Having been transferred to the 18th Battalion only days earlier, he was killed by a high-explosive shell as he was looking for some men who were lost while on a working party in advance of the front-line trenches. His immediate superior, Captain I. O. H. Rayward, said in a letter to Wright’s mother, "your son died cleanly and bravely, doing that which he set his hand to in a manner which became his rank and station." From the Appleby College Archives.

War Diary Entry Relating to Lieutenant William Richard Wright's death

Night of 12/13 May 1917

During the night Brigade called for two parties to carry wire to the front line. Lieutenants G. E. Lucas and W. R. Wright being detailed to take charge of these parties. Lieutenant G.E. Lucas completed his task with the loss of 4 Other Ranks Wounded. Lieutenant W. R. Wright and party on returning was heavily shelled in [Mont Forêt Road, 62580 Vimy, Hauts-de-France, France 50.371033, 2.840631], scattering the party, Lieutenant W. R. Wright and Sergeant T. Clark being Killed and 6 Other Ranks Wounded.

Lieutenant William Richard Wright, Officers' Declaration Paper, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force

• Born 8 April 1898 in Ottawa, Canada
• Present Address: C.M.S. Crowborough
• Next of kin: Marion Wright (mother), c/o Parrs Bank, Regent Street, London, England
• Occupation: Student
• Religion: Church of England

Imperial War Graves Commission

• Ecoivres Military Cemetery "E" [Ecoivres Military Cemetery, 1916 Rte de Maroeuil, 62144 Mont-Saint-Éloi, Hauts-de-France, France 50.3431538, 2.6866297]
• 1202/1E Headstone 1303
• Son of the late Henry P Wright M.D.
• born in Ottawa 8 April 1898
• (Mrs. Wright, 313 Côte-des-Neiges Road, Montreal, Canada)

Lieutenant William Richard Wright, 18th Battalion Canadian Infantry, (Western Ontario Regiment), [Died] Sunday, 13 May 1917. Age 19. Son of Henry P. Wright M.D. and Marion Wright, of Ottawa. V. J. 8.