Name
Donald Sam (poss Sam Donald) Wright
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/04/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CALAIS SOUTHERN CEMETERY
Plot A. Row Officers. Grave 17.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Walkern War Memorial
Pre War
Donald Wright was born on the 25th June 1895 the son of Samuel Eustace & Emma Westrope Wright of Lyndhurst, Walkern, Hertfordshire. His father was a local mineral drinks manufacturer. Donald was educated at Caldicott school entering in the school in January 1905, and later at Bishop Stortford college.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in the Army on the 13th July 1915 just a few weeks after his 20th birthday and served as Private 8241 in No.14 Platoon, “D” Company of the 19th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He was posted to France on the 8th January 1916 and joined his Battalion in the field on the 17th January. He then served on the Western Front for exactly four months and on the 18th May 1916 was posted England to undertake a cadetship at No. 6 Officer Cadet Battalion. The Battalion was located at Balliol College, Oxford and he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 25th September 1916. Donald was posted to the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment on the 20th October 1916 and embarked for France on the 10th November. He was attached to the 8th Battalion on the 27th November 1916 and served with them on the Western Front throughout the winter of 1916/17. On the 16th April 1917 the Battalion moved into Front Line positions at Loos. A few days later, on the 19th, they were involved in bitter fighting in the area and were subjected to heavy artillery barrages and grenade attacks. Donald Wright received serious shell wounds to his right eye, face and chest and was evacuated to No. 18 Field Ambulance. Later that day he was moved to No. 33 Casualty Clearing station at Bethune, where he remained for six days. The nature of injuries must have been quite serious as he was moved to No. 35 General Field Hospital in Calais on the 25th April where he died at 11pm that night. Donald is buried in the Calais Southern Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
www.stevenageatwar.com *1 This memorial (names only) was removed to Caldicott School, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire, when the school moved to that site. It is not clear if this man is listed on the memorial, but is recorded as being at the school.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
