Pte
Sydney Wright
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 18/12/1897 |
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Place of birth: Astwood, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Day laborer |
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: 60110 |
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Enlistment place: Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, 11th Bn. (Last known unit) — Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, 26th Bn. |
Information about death
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Date of death: 10/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Glencorse Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 6JJ |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 11/12/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 11/12/1920 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Sydney Wright was a 19 year old man from Astwood, Buckinghamshire. He joined the British Expeditionary Force at Bedford. Initially, he was part of the 26th and 22nd Royal Fusiliers. Later, he became a part of the 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, which fell under the 54th Brigade, 18th Division. In August 1917, his battalion played a part in the capture of Westhoek during the Battle of Passchendaele.
On the 10th of August 1917, the 11th Royal Fusiliers were to advance on Glencorse Wood. During the early hours of the day the Battalion occupied positions near Jargon Support, just north of Fitzclarence Farm. The attack started at 4.35 a.m. The objective in Glencorse Wood was reached on time, but the men came under destructive frontal machine-gun fire and the Battalion suffered heavy casualties. The 7th Queen’s who were to form a defensive flank along the edge of Inverness Copse was stopped by heavy machine-gun fire and wasn’t able to reach its objective. The 11th Royal Fusiliers remained at the position until 6 a.m. when the Germans launched a counter-attack from Inverness Copse. The attack rolled up the right flank of the battalion and the men fell back to a nearby crestline. This line was held until the battalion was relieved by the 8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment.
The 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers had failed to hold its objective, as the Germans were in possession of the right flank. Making it possible to manoeuvre on the Royal Fusiliers’ flank and rear. The battalion suffered heavy casualties during the fighting in Glencorse Wood. It went into battle with 37 officers and 891 other ranks and came out of action with 20 officers and 563 other ranks. 17 officers and 328 men were either killed, wounded or missing.
Private Wright was one of the men who lost their lives during this battle. His body was never found. Today, he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, panel 6JJ.
On the 10th of August 1917, the 11th Royal Fusiliers were to advance on Glencorse Wood. During the early hours of the day the Battalion occupied positions near Jargon Support, just north of Fitzclarence Farm. The attack started at 4.35 a.m. The objective in Glencorse Wood was reached on time, but the men came under destructive frontal machine-gun fire and the Battalion suffered heavy casualties. The 7th Queen’s who were to form a defensive flank along the edge of Inverness Copse was stopped by heavy machine-gun fire and wasn’t able to reach its objective. The 11th Royal Fusiliers remained at the position until 6 a.m. when the Germans launched a counter-attack from Inverness Copse. The attack rolled up the right flank of the battalion and the men fell back to a nearby crestline. This line was held until the battalion was relieved by the 8th Bn. Norfolk Regiment.
The 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers had failed to hold its objective, as the Germans were in possession of the right flank. Making it possible to manoeuvre on the Royal Fusiliers’ flank and rear. The battalion suffered heavy casualties during the fighting in Glencorse Wood. It went into battle with 37 officers and 891 other ranks and came out of action with 20 officers and 563 other ranks. 17 officers and 328 men were either killed, wounded or missing.
Private Wright was one of the men who lost their lives during this battle. His body was never found. Today, he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, panel 6JJ.
Sources 6
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/912201/SYDNEY%20WRIGHT/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the day by day account. Londen: Uniform, 2018. 44-6. Sources used |
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Naval and Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |
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O'Neill, H.C. The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War. Dallington: The Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2002. 186-7 Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/royal-fusiliers-city-of-london-regiment/ Sources used |