Pte
Sydney Wright

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
18/12/1897
Geboorteplaats:
Astwood, Buckinghamshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Dagloner

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
60110
Dienstneming plaats:
Bedford, Bedfordshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, 11th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)
 —  Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, 26th Bn.

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
10/08/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Glencorse Wood, Zonnebeke, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
19

Gedenkplaats

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille — 11/12/1920
Victory Medal
Medaille — 11/12/1920

Points of interest 3

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats
#3 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

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.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 6

Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com
Gebruikte bronnen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/912201/SYDNEY%20WRIGHT/
Gebruikte bronnen
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the day by day account. Londen: Uniform, 2018. 44-6.
Gebruikte bronnen
Naval and Military Archive
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Gebruikte bronnen
O'Neill, H.C. The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War. Dallington: The Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2002. 186-7
Gebruikte bronnen
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/
Gebruikte bronnen