Pte
Emery Clayton Wright
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 23/03/1898 |
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Place of birth: Arthurette, New Brunswick, Canada |
General information
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Last known residence: Arthurette, New Brunswick, Canada |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Baptist |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 743081 |
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Enlistment date: 25/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 26th Bn. (New Brunswick) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XVI Row: D Grave: 4 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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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
Emery Wright Clayton was born on 23 March 1898 in Arthurette, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the son of Benjamin Ward Wright and Alanda Maud Brown. He was married to Christina, and together they had one son. Before enlisting, he worked as a labourer. On 25 March 1916, at the age of 18, he enlisted in Saint John, New Brunswick. He was initially assigned to the 115th Battalion (New Brunswick). After arriving in the United Kingdom, he was transferred to the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick), 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.
Emery was killed on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze on 4 November at about 11 p.m., heading towards Seine Dump, where it arrived around 1 a.m. the following day. There, the men dug in and tried to get some rest before moving forward again at about 11 p.m. that evening to the assembly positions for the attack on 6 November. These positions ran from what is now Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The attack on Passchendaele would be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, who were tasked with taking the village itself. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) from the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade would also attack, taking the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of the village, beyond Tiber.
Shortly after reaching the assembly positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, resulting in the first casualties. The attack began at 6 a.m. and was carried out by “A”, “B”, and “D” Companies, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A barrage covered the advancing troops, and by 6:20 a.m., the extreme right positions were already in the hands of “A” Company. Then, at 6:40 and 7 a.m., the central and extreme left positions were secured by “B” Company and “D” Company. All companies encountered relatively little resistance but suffered several casualties. The greatest resistance came mainly from machine-gun crews. After capturing the enemy positions, contact was established between the companies, and the lines were consolidated. Throughout the day, the Canadians were subjected to artillery, sniper, and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions throughout the day. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counterattack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly captured front remained relatively quiet, though the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion lost 42 killed, 206 wounded, and 1 missing.
Emery was killed at the age of 19. His body was found after the war south of the centre of Passchendaele. He was later reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XVI, Row D, Grave 4.
Emery was killed on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze on 4 November at about 11 p.m., heading towards Seine Dump, where it arrived around 1 a.m. the following day. There, the men dug in and tried to get some rest before moving forward again at about 11 p.m. that evening to the assembly positions for the attack on 6 November. These positions ran from what is now Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The attack on Passchendaele would be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, who were tasked with taking the village itself. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) from the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade would also attack, taking the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of the village, beyond Tiber.
Shortly after reaching the assembly positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, resulting in the first casualties. The attack began at 6 a.m. and was carried out by “A”, “B”, and “D” Companies, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A barrage covered the advancing troops, and by 6:20 a.m., the extreme right positions were already in the hands of “A” Company. Then, at 6:40 and 7 a.m., the central and extreme left positions were secured by “B” Company and “D” Company. All companies encountered relatively little resistance but suffered several casualties. The greatest resistance came mainly from machine-gun crews. After capturing the enemy positions, contact was established between the companies, and the lines were consolidated. Throughout the day, the Canadians were subjected to artillery, sniper, and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions throughout the day. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counterattack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly captured front remained relatively quiet, though the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion lost 42 killed, 206 wounded, and 1 missing.
Emery was killed at the age of 19. His body was found after the war south of the centre of Passchendaele. He was later reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XVI, Row D, Grave 4.
Sources 3
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10596 - 44). https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/search.aspx Sources used |
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War diaries - 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade. (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, 4886, T-10682, 253). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
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War diaries: 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4934, Microfilm reel number: T-10737 - T-10738, File number: 421). https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng Sources used |
More information 5
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/465282 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5799900 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/465282 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=31363dc1-be87-438d-9f26-43bb3cc9de2b |
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A Street Near You https://astreetnearyou.org/person/465282/ |