Name
Ernest George Wright
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/06/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201132
Essex Regiment
1st/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KANTARA WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
F. 421.
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Ernest George Wright was born in Northchurch in 1884 to George Wright, tinsmith/brazier, and Matilda (nee Fennimore.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Ernest, Frederick (born 1886), George (born 1888) and Annie (born 1890) were living at George Street, Northchurch.
On the 1901 Census stationery labellers) and Arthur (born 1898) were living at 6, Norris Terrace, Northchurch.
Ernest married Ada Baldwin in 1908, on the 1911 Census Ernest (a carter for a miller & seed merchant) and Ada, with William H Baldwin (born125 Sep 1906), and Lily Sophia (born 22 Nov 1909) were living at 17, Wingrave Road, Tring. There would be further children; Arthur (born 4 Apr 1912), Harry (born 10 Sep 1914) and Violet (born 22 Feb 1916). Ernest’s parents in 1911 were living at 92 Shrublands Avenue, Berkhamsted with George (domestic gardener), Arthur, Elsie Louisa (born 1902) and Janet Nellie (born 1903).
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Ernest. He may have enlisted in Jun 1915 becoming Private 19218 in the Bedfordshire Regiment, going to France on 1 Apr but shortly afterwards transferred to the Essex Regiment as Private 3535 as a Territorial in the 1st/4th Battalion (renumbered as 201132 in the Territorial renumbering in 1917). He was reported killed in action in Palestine on 3 Jun 1917.
From the Bucks Herald 23rd June 1917: “ROLL OF HONOUR. – Still another name has been added to the Roll of Honour of residents of the town who have laid down their lives in the great war. News has been received that Ernest George Wright of Council Cottages, Brooke-street, was killed in action in Palestine on June 3. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved wife, who is left with five children, ranging from 10 years of age to 15 months, especially as this is her second great bereavement in a few weeks, Mrs Wright being a sister of the late Albert Baldwin, whose death occurred as the result of an accident with a traction engine. Wright who was formerly in the employ of Mr. Frank Grace, as a carter, was 32 years of age. He joined the Essex Regiment early in the war, and after a few months service in France proceeded to Egypt.”
From the Parish Magazine July 1917: “Ernest George Wright was killed on 3rd June 1917 in Palestine, two days after Stanley Miller. He joined the Army in June of 1915 and spent eight months with his regiment, the 4th Essex in France, afterwards proceeding to Egypt. No further details have yet been received, but he will be remembered here as one who fought and died bravely. May he rest in peace.”
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £11 10s ans arrears of £6 9s 9d was paid to his widow Ada.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Tring Local History
