Arthur James Wright

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Arthur died on 29th of September 1917 at the age of 33. 

Arthur was born at Upton, Norfolk, in 1883, a son of James and Frances Wright. He was baptised at Acle on 30 July 1883. In 1891 his family lived at Moulton Road, Acle. By 1901 his family were living at Hall Road, Oulton Broad, and Arthur worked as a labourer and an iron works. 

Arthur married Maude Ethel Sayer in 1907. By 1911 they were living 'near' The Street, Blundeston, and Arthur was a labourer with the Great Eastern Railway Company.

Arthur volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He served with the Suffolk Regiment and arrived in France on 3 December 1914 to join the 2nd Battalion. 

In July 1917 Arthur was admitted to 7 Field Ambulance, sick and transferred to 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 25 July. He was transferred to No 1 Ambulance Train on 30 July. Once recovered he returned to the 2nd Battalion.

Between 25 and 29 September 1917 the 2nd Battalion were involved in an attack on positions near Zonnebeke. The attack was to follow a creeping barrage, but was, initially, held up by mist. The advance continued to Muhle when some consolidation began. W Company rushed and captured the Brickyard and Kiln areas. The final objective was rushed and captured with the exception of the extreme left by Zonnebeke Church. The Germans launched a counter-attack during the night of 26 September, but were repelled. The battalion then held the position until 29 September and were harassed by sniper fire and the use of gas shells. The battalion was relived on 30 September.

The battalion’s casualties between 25 and 29 September were:
Officers: one killed, eight wounded
Other ranks: 41 killed, 192 wounded, 25 missing, 

Arthur is recorded as having been killed in action.  

Arthur’s son Cecil Served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and died in 1943. Arthur's grandaughter, Barbara Wright, died during the Waller Raid in 1942.