George's Story.
Son of Miss. Emily Wright, of 18, Cole Hill, Congleton, Cheshire. When he was six months old, he was a boarder at a Hannah Smith's at 36, Bromley Street, Congleton, Cheshire. He was then taken in by Miss. Elizabeth Pedley (illegally) and called her son, living at 50, Rood Hill, Congleton, Cheshire and 74, Rood Hill, Congleton, Cheshire.
He was husband of Mrs. Mabel Wright, (nee Morton) of 35, Thomas Street, Congleton, Cheshire. They were married at St Stephen's Church, Congleton, Cheshire, on the 23rd March 1913. He had two brothers, William and Frederick Wright. Frederick Wright, was killed in action, on the 3 rd. of July 1916. Prior to the war, he was employed as a Fustian Cutter.
George enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment at Macclesfield on the 1st of September 1914 his given age was 23 years 330 days, he was 5ft 6 inches, a fresh complexion with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He had already seen service in the 7th Battalion. On the 15th of September 1914, he was posted to the 10th Battalion which came under the orders of the 75th Brigade 25th Division. The Battalion consisted of 800 men all in mufti and with no change of clothes, N.C.O.s were chosen purely from what they had been doing in civilian life and were given ribbons to distinguish their rank which they provided for themselves. The following days resembled a monsoon and the men only had the clothes they stood up in and a blanket, they had to stay in their tents, after spending some time in Chester and Codford St Mary the Battalion moved, and by November was in billets in Bournemouth where they remained until May 1915 when they moved to Aldershot. The Battalion embarked for France on the 25th of September 1915. Prior to embarking for France, George Wright was promoted to unpaid Lance Corporal in January 1915 which was according to his service record reverted on the 27th of July 1915. Regardless of this he still kept his rank.
His death was announced in the Congleton Chronicle
Lance Corporal George Wright a soldier was killed on the morning of the 19th of December 1915. The news of his death was conveyed in a letter from the Chaplain to Mrs. Wright. He met his death in the trenches, death being instantaneous. It appears the gallant soldier was on sentry duty when he met his death, mercifully suffering no pain. He was well known in Congleton, being a playing member of the Town Prize Band and by his affable disposition and cheery optimism, had gathered about him a large circle of friends. He was also greatly respected among his comrades at the front, as the letters which have reached Congleton since his demise will testify, and the sincere sympathy of all will go out to his bereaved wife in her hour of trial. The following letter has been received by Mrs. Wright, besides one from the Chaplain, setting forth the qualities of the brave young soldier.
Dear, Mrs. Wright, December 20th 1915
I deeply regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband, Lance Corporal G. Wright. He was shot through the head whilst on sentry duty, early in the morning of the 19th of December and was killed instantaneously. He was buried later in the day in the Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery, Comines (left) our cemetery in the wood. His loss is no small one to both his platoon and company, where he had always endeared himself by his cheerful nature and by his way of livening all up when things looked bad. To you, I send my heartfelt sympathy in your loss and my hopes that you will be able to find comfort in the thought that your husband died in the performance of his duty.
I remain, Yours Truly, W. M. Langton, Lieutenant.
The battalion war diary indicates that it may have been the 18th December not the 19th when George was killed, on the 18th the dairy reads: PLOEGSTEERT, Thick fog and rain in the early morning, much rifle fire from the enemy trenches. Pte WRIGHT, "A" Coy. Killed while on sentry at 4:30am. Afternoon a quiet time, Pte BENTLEY of “C” Coy. Has found to have a bullet in his leg which he had not felt.
Cheshire County memorial Project would like to thank John and Christopher Pullen.