Pte
Percy Rodwell Wright
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1890 |
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Place of birth: King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Hastings, Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Bookbinder |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 325477 |
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Enlistment place: Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Cambridgeshire Regiment, 1/1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
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Place of death: St Julien, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 52A |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Percy Rodwell Wright was the son of George Wright and Lucy Seals. He was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England around 1890. Percy lived in Hastings and worked as a bookbinder. Presumably around 1913, he enlisted in the British Army. He belonged to the 1/1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment (118th Brigade, 39th Division). He arrived on the French battlefields on 10 July 1915.
Percy died on 31 July 1917, during the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele. At 3.50am, the attack got under way. The ground was muddy due to heavy rains the previous days, but 31 July started dry. The 39th Division took part with the 116th and 117th Brigades, with the 118th Brigade in support. The first objective was the line between Kultur Farm and Mouse Trap Farm. The second and third objectives were respectively on the line between Kitchener's Wood and Corner Cottage and the line between Culvert, Triangle Farm,Von Tirpitz Farm and Winnipeg.
The 118th Brigade moved into action at about 8am, after the attack by the 116th and 117th Brigades was underway. The brigade managed to traverse Kitchener's Wood and cross Stone Brook. On the right, St Julien was crossed and they even managed to reach Von Tirpitz Farm. However, the 55th Division did not follow. Due to German counterattacks and a shortage of ammunition, the brigade retreated from St Julien to the east bank of the Steenbeek. To make matters worse, it started raining around 4pm and the brigade was shelled by its own artillery between 6.15pm and 7pm. Eventually, the 118th Brigade was withdrawn to the Divisional Reserve. The line from Culvert to St Julien was held by the 116th and 117th Brigades. The Cambridgeshire Regiment paid a high price for the attack on St Julien: no fewer than 16 officers and 286 others were killed, missing or wounded. Among them was 27-year-old Percy Rodwell Wright, who was initially reported missing and later killed. His cousin Percy Charles Wright of the 17th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps also lost his life that day. Percy Rodwell Wright has no known grave, but he is commemorated on the Menin Gate (panel 52, stone A).
Percy died on 31 July 1917, during the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele. At 3.50am, the attack got under way. The ground was muddy due to heavy rains the previous days, but 31 July started dry. The 39th Division took part with the 116th and 117th Brigades, with the 118th Brigade in support. The first objective was the line between Kultur Farm and Mouse Trap Farm. The second and third objectives were respectively on the line between Kitchener's Wood and Corner Cottage and the line between Culvert, Triangle Farm,Von Tirpitz Farm and Winnipeg.
The 118th Brigade moved into action at about 8am, after the attack by the 116th and 117th Brigades was underway. The brigade managed to traverse Kitchener's Wood and cross Stone Brook. On the right, St Julien was crossed and they even managed to reach Von Tirpitz Farm. However, the 55th Division did not follow. Due to German counterattacks and a shortage of ammunition, the brigade retreated from St Julien to the east bank of the Steenbeek. To make matters worse, it started raining around 4pm and the brigade was shelled by its own artillery between 6.15pm and 7pm. Eventually, the 118th Brigade was withdrawn to the Divisional Reserve. The line from Culvert to St Julien was held by the 116th and 117th Brigades. The Cambridgeshire Regiment paid a high price for the attack on St Julien: no fewer than 16 officers and 286 others were killed, missing or wounded. Among them was 27-year-old Percy Rodwell Wright, who was initially reported missing and later killed. His cousin Percy Charles Wright of the 17th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps also lost his life that day. Percy Rodwell Wright has no known grave, but he is commemorated on the Menin Gate (panel 52, stone A).
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Percy Charles Wright
Nephew |
Sources 10
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1/1 Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2590/1_3 ). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War 1 Medal Roll Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The national Archives, Kew (TNA).WO 372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG12). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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In Memoriam "Percy Charles Wright" by Nicholas True. Sources used |
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In Memoriam "Percy Rodwell Wright" by Nicholas True. Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris, Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen, Arms & Armour, 2018), p29-30. Sources used |
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Soldiers Effects Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
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War office and Air Ministry: Service Medals and Award rolls, First World War (The National Archives, Kew (TNA). WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/912196 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=9810ce25-3cb2-44b3-9e40-6ce69ae79d55 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4902010 |