Private Joseph Wright, 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Service number 41865. Formerly 201587, Royal Scots Regiment.
Private Joseph Wright.
Joseph was born in Haworth on July 1, 1875 and baptised at St Michael and All Angels Church on September 26. Parents William Edwin and Mary Wright. William was an engine tenter. In
1881 he was a scholar aged five, living with his parents and brother Thomas aged four at 8, Ebor Lane in Haworth. By 1891 he was fifteen and working as an apprentice roller coverer
He was still living at 8, Ebor Lane, Haworth with his widowed mother Mary, brothers Thomas and James, and sister Marian. They were still there ten years later in the 1901 census, although James had moved out by then. Joseph married Clara Ratcliffe on October 21, 1903 at St Peter's Church in Bradford. Clara was a twenty-two year old weaver of 10, Mill Hill, Haworth and Joseph was twenty-eight and still a roller coverer. By 1908 they had moved to 16, Cold Street in Haworth and Joseph was recorded here in the electoral roll until at least 1911. Clara died in 1910 aged twenty-nine after just seven years marriage. His mother was living with him at 16, Cold Street in the census. Joseph enlisted in 1916. He had no 1914-15 Star awarded, so must have gone out to France after January of that year.On May 16, 1918 he died of wounds received in action on May 8 whilst serving with the Scottish Rifles. He died at a Casualty Clearing Station and was buried in grave 35, row A of plot V at Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery in Belgium.
Keighley News report dated 10th August 1918: WORTH VALLEY.
Information has long been sought respecting Private Joseph Wright, of the Scottish Rifles, who, prior to enlistment, resided with his brother, Mr James Wright, at Mount View.
The official information now to hand is that he was wounded in France on May 8 last, and died of wounds in hospital on May 16. Many efforts had been made in the meantime to establish his whereabouts, the only scrap of information being a message from a comrade who saw him wounded.
War diary entry for 1st Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles. May, 1918:
ATLANTIC CAMP. May 8. The enemy had attacked the French and 33rd Division front at 8 am. After the French had made an attack & drove the line back. Message received at about 9.30 am that situation on 30th composite Brigade front was obscure & that the Battalion was to take up a position in the VLAMERTINGHE LINE between HALLEBAST CORNER and a point 600 yards NE of HALLEBAST CORNER & would be prepated to make a deliberate counter attack if necessary. This was carried out later in the day and the objective was the old trench line lost to the enemy that morning. The attack began at 6 pm but a hurricane barrage landed on HALLEBAST CORNER just as A Company arrived and this caused a number of casualties. As soon as the leading companies reached the ridge North West of the ROZENHILL BECK the heavy barrage of machine gun fire opened - a certain amount of artillery fire opened but a proper barrage was not put down until A Company reached the ridge - very few casualties were inflicted by shell fire but very heavy casualties occurred through machine gun fire. The Company commanders of A, B & C Companies were wounded almost immediately. Casualties: 3 officers killed, 7 wounded; 16 other ranks killed, 184 wounded.
He is remembered on the main Haworth War Memorial, the roll of honour board in St Michael and All Angels Church and on the Haworth Oddfellows roll of honour, in the care of Wyedean Weaving in Haworth.
Source information:
Birth, marriage and death records.
1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 census.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Keighley News archives, Keighley Library.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War.
Soldier's Effects records.
National Archives war diary for 1st Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles.
