This man is a candidate for addition to Keighley's Supplementary Volume under the proposal to add further names in 2024, the centenary of the original roll of honour.
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Supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, our project intends to submit about 120 names for peer review to add them to the book which is kept at Keighley Library. The unveiling of the book with it's new names is planned for November 2024, 100 years after the unveiling of the original war memorial.
Captain, 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
Previously, Private 8th Battalion, served with Gloucestershire Yeomanry (Hussars) Gloucestershire Regiment, Service number 2310.
Captain Joseph Herbert Wright.
Early life:
Joseph was born in Bradford in 1884. His birth was registered there in the second quarter of the year.
His parents were David and Ann Wright née Spencer who had been married in 1867 at Denholme. They already had two children who were Enoch born in 1873 and Mary Amy born in 1882.
In the 1891 census Joseph was six years old and living at 1, Oak Street at Ling Bob in Wilsden with his parents, plus siblings Enoch aged 19 and Mary Amy aged eight.
David was a grocer and draper, Ann was a shopkeeper (working together) and Enoch was a tailor. Both Joseph and Mary were at school.
In 1895 his brother Enoch died on 22nd October, at Woodland Cottage in Silverdale, Lancashire and was buried there on 25th October. He was just 24.
His father David died on 14th September 1897 aged 55 and was buried in the family grave at St. Matthew's Church graveyard off Cullingworth Road.
Joseph attended Keighley Boy's Grammar School for two years between 1897 and 1899 so he would have had to commute between Wilsden and Keighley. He was remembered at School by some of the Masters as being of a studious disposition, and of quiet and unassuming manners. After leaving school he went on to take a science degree and also teacher training.
By the time of the 1901 census the family was living at 260, Ling Bob, Wilsden. Ann was still running a grocery and draper's shop, Mary A. was 19 and an assistant elementary school teacher and Joseph was 16 and doing the same. They may have been teaching at the Wilsden School on Tweedy Lane in Wilsden and would have been employed by Bradford Education Committee.
His sister Mary Amy married local doctor Henry Arthur Marquis on 2nd November 1893.
The Wright Family Grave at Wilsden.
In the electoral roll for 1909 we see Joseph living at 254 Main Street in Wilsden. This just a few doors away from the family home.
In the 1911 census Joseph is aged 26 and back at 260, Main Street and is living there with his widowed mother Ann who is now aged 55 and still a grocer. Joseph is still an assistant teacher employed by Bradford Education Committee.
In the 1913 electoral roll Joseph is living at Mill Hill Top nearer to Harden and has recently moved there from 2, Queen Street near Ling Bob.
According to the obituary from Keighley Boy's Grammar school, he was trained at Battersea Training College, and took the B.Sc. degree of London University. For some years he was teaching under the Bradford Education Committee, but before the war he was a Science Master at Cinderford Higher Elementary School, Gloucestershire.
War service:
There is an officer's service record for Joseph held at the National Archives in Kew, but it has not been digitised.
It appears from his obituary that he enlisted in 1914 as a private with the Gloucestershire Yeomanry (Hussars) and then obtained a commission and went into the Gloucestershire Regiment. He entered France with them as a Lieutenant on 18th July 1915.
Joseph was wounded in the Battle of the Somme.
WO-95/2085/1 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.
1916.
1st July. MILLENCOURT.
7.30 am: Moved forward to intermediate line North of Albert.
5 pm: Moved forward to Valley Area near ALBERT - POZIERES Road.
10 pm: Moved forward to the TARA - USNA line in rear of trenches & remained there for the night.
TARA - USNA LINE.
2nd July: Battalion in trenches TARA - USNA line all day.
3rd July. 1.30 am: Moved forward to attack viz St. Andrews trench.
3.15 am: Attacked La BOISSELLE & consolidated position - remained there all day and night. Officers killed Captain H. Cox, Captain E. H. Crooke, Captain W. J. Mason, 2nd Lieutenant E. J. Evans, 2nd Lieutenant G. S. Gadney, 2nd Lieutenant G. E. H. Ross.
This was reported in the Keighley News dated 8th July 1916:
Lieutenant J. H. Wright (31) brother in law of Dr. Marquis, of Wilsden, of the Gloucester Regiment, has been wounded in the fighting of the past week and is now in hospital in France. In a letter received by Mrs. Marquis yesterday Lieutenant Wright states he sustained his injury when his regiment was taking a village where the enemy was offering a stubborn resistance. His injury is to the head and was caused by a bomb. He adds that the Gloucesters took 200 prisoners, who seemed glad to give themselves up. The enemy had suffered severely, and the men seemed to be terrified that they were going to be "done in." Prior to joining the Army Lieutenant Wright was a science master at a secondary school at Cinderford, Gloucestershire.
Joseph was awarded the Military Cross in January 1917 and this was announced in the London Gazette dated Friday, 29th December 1916.
He was wounded again, at Messines in June 1917.
WO-95/2085/1 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.
1917. Ascot Camp.
6th June: Battalion moved off at 11.15 am. to staging area near LA CLYTTE and at night, was equipped for action.
Battalion moved off to take position of assembly for attack. Th IX Corps to which the 19th Division belonged, took p[art in an offensive which had for it's objective the capture of the MESSINES _ WYTSCHAETE Ridge.
WYTSCHAETE BEEK.
7th June: Attack launched at 3.10 am by 19th Division.
8.10 am: Battalion attacked BLACK LINE in front of ONRAET WOOD and took it's objective. Patrol pushed out and line in front of OOSTAVERNE WOOD also held.
ONRAET WOOD. Further attack was launched against village of OOSTAVERNE and ODONTO Trench. Battalion took its objective and consolidated position. The result of the day's operations was highly successful. During the operations Captain H. B. Hastings was killed, Lieutenant W. E. Hawkins was mortally wounded, Captain J. H. Wright M.C. and 2nd Lieutenant R.F.J. Foskett were wounded.
The above event was reported in the Keighley News dated 16th June:
CAPTAIN J. H. WRIGHT.
Captain J.H. Wright, of the Gloucestershire Regiment, only son of Mrs. Wright, of Wilsden, and brother-in-law of Dr. Marquis, of Wilsden, has been admitted to hospital suffering from a severe gunshot wound in the left eye. He has been at the front for over two years, and was wounded in the Somme fighting on July 3 last year. About a month ago, when at home of leave, he received the Military Cross from the King. The award of the distinction was announced among the New Year honours, and it was given for his work on the Somme. He was formerly science master at a school at Cinderford, Gloucestershire.
WO-95/2085/1 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.
1918. BANCOURT. 24th March: The Battalion left camp at 5 am to hold a reserve line astride of the BAPAUME - CAMBRAI Road about 1 mile East of BANCOURT. Battalion withdrew about 8 pm through BAPAUME closely pressed by the enemy and reorganised at GREVILLERS.
25th March: Enemy attacked 4 times. 19th Division fought a rearguard action from GREVILLERS through IRLES and MIRAUMONT to a line PUISIEUX - ACHIET-le-PETTIT.
26th March: Rear Guard action continued to a line HEBUTERNE - BUCQUOY which was reached in the early morning and held. 19th Division became Division reserve between BAYENCOURT and FONQUEVILLERS.
27th March: Battalion in support to ANZACS. Before FONQUEVILLERS. Enemy held by fresh troops.
28th March: The Battalion withdrew to neighbourhood of DOULLENS. Casualties - Killed, 2 officers, 390 other ranks; Wounded, 9 officers 169 other ranks; missing, 4 officers, 140 other ranks.
Joseph was one of the two officers mentioned above who were killed in action at Grevillers on 25th March, 1918.
The following extract from a letter sent by the Colonel of the Regiment to his mother shows the esteem in which he was held by his brother officers:
“Throughout, your son had done many gallant deeds, fighting a rearguard action with tired troops against always fresh divisions of the enemy. He was finally surrounded, and shot from behind at short range, death being instantaneous. I have lost one of my best officers and a friend... The battalion is almost unrecognisable. Your son and Capt. James (missing) being the last two original officers remaining.”
Keighley News, Saturday 6th April 1918, page 3
LOCAL WAR CASUALTIES.
Captain J. Herbert Wright, M.C. (33), Gloucestershire Regiment, son of the late Mr. David Wright, of Wilsden, was killed in the fighting on March 25. Captain Wright, shows family is a well-know one at Wilsden, was science master in a secondary school at Cinderford, Gloucestershire, when war broke out, and obtained a commission in the county regiment. He saw service in France up to the time of the Somme fighting in July, 1916, when he was wounded. He returned to the front on recovery, and subsequently he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, and promoted to the rank of captain. He was again wounded last summer, but not seriously, and was able to go back to the front. He was home on leave in December last.
His mother, Mrs. Wright, has received the following letter, dated March 28, from Lieutenant Colonel R. B. Somerville, the colonel in command of the regiment: "I regret to have to inform you that your son, Captain Joseph Herbert Wright, was killed in action on the 15th inst. The battalion had been fighting since the 21st, and throughout your son had done many gallant deeds, fighting a rearguard action with tired troops against always fresh divisions of the enemy. He was finally surrounded, and shot from behind at short range, death being instantaneous. I can only express my sympathy, I have lost one of my best officers and a friend, but I am certain he would have chosen to die thus, if it had to be, fighting to the last in the greatest battle of modern times. The battalion is almost unrecognisable, and the gaps are horrible. Your son and Capt. James (missing) being the last two original officers remaining... The battalion had been fighting from the 21st till this morning without a break, and we are too weary to do anything for a day or so. I shall be only took glad to answer any question. Your only consolation is that he died for his country, and we are left to mourn his loss.”
Joseph's body would have been left behind in the withdrawal and it either was not found or his grave was later lost (assuming he was buried by the enemy.) He is named on Bay 6 of the Arras Memorial, at Faubourg-d'Amiens in France.
An obituary was placed in the Keighlian Magazine, the school magazine of Keighley Boy's Grammar School along with his photograph.
Keighlian Magazine:
JOSEPH HERBERT WRIGHT. Captain. 8th Batt. Gloucester Regt.
Joseph Herbert Wright attended the School from 1897 to 1899. After leaving School he entered the teaching profession. He was trained at Battersea Training College, and took the B.Sc. degree of London University. For some years he was teaching under the Bradford Education Committee, but before the war he was a Science Master at Cinderford Higher Elementary School, Gloucestershire. He joined the Army in 1914, obtained a Commission, and first went to France in July, 1915. At the Battle of the Somme, July 1916, he was wounded. He was later awarded the Military Cross. At Messines he was again wounded, 7th June, 1917. He fell at Grevillers, March 25th, 1918.
Joseph Herbert Wright is still remembered at School by some of the Masters as being of a studious disposition, and of quiet and unassuming manners. We deeply regret that such a promising career should be so suddenly cut short.
The following extract from a letter sent by the Colonel of the Regiment to his mother shows the esteem in which he was held by his brother officers.
"Throughout, your son had done many gallant deeds, fighting a rearguard action with tired troops against always fresh divisions of the enemy. He was finally surrounded, and shot from behind at short range, death being instantaneous. I have lost one of my best officers and a friend...
The battalion is almost unrecognisable. Your son and Capt. James (missing) being the last two original officers remaining."
Post war:
Joseph's mother Ann was his next of kin, However, on 7th May 1918 the probate record shows his effects of £473 1s 4d was paid to his sister Mary Marquis, wife of Henry Arthur Marquis.
His mother Ann appears to have received a dependant's pension of £30 per annum paid at £7 10s per quarter, with the payments beginning in June 1918. There was also a bonus of £110 paid in March, 1919.
Ann would also have received his medals which were issued on 19th May 1922. At the time she was living at 222, Main Street in Wilsden at the home of her only remaining child Mary and her husband, Doctor Marquis. She would also have received a bronze war memorial plaque and King's certificate inscribed with Joseph's name.
In the 1921 census, Ann was living at 222, Main Street in Wilsden with Henry and Mary, and their children Geoffrey aged 14 and Marjorie aged 13.They also had a servant, Elizabeth La Grieve aged 28.
Wilsden War Memorial plaque with Joseph's name on it.
Remembrance:
Joseph is named on the Arras Memorial in France.
He is named on the Wilsden War Memorial.
He is also listed in the Keighlian Magazine roll of honour, for Keighley Boy's Grammar School.
Joseph's name appears in the University of London Officer's Training Corps - Student Records, recording his military service 1914 to 1918 and recording that he died in the war.
His mother Ann died on 19th August 1931 aged 85. She is buried in the family grave at St. Matthews churchyard in Wilsden.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1891 England Census
Lancashire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1986
Bishop's Transcripts, Lancashire.
1901 England Census
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
England & Wales, Electoral Registers 1910-1932
1911 England Census
The London Gazette
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
The National Archives - battalion war diaries
British Armed Forces, First World War Disability & Retirement Payments For Officers & Nurses
WWI, Recipients of the Military Cross, 1914-1920
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library
Keighlian Magazine
British Newspaper Archive
Bradford Observer
Lancaster Standard and County
Western Daily Press
