Heslop’s Local Advertiser 20/07/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Gordon Wright was born at Bensham, Gateshead, County Durham, in 1890, one of 6 children of whom only 3 survived, he was the eldest of 2 sons and a daughter. His father William Hunter B. Wright native of Felling, born 1865 married at Gateshead in 1889 to Margaret Ann Tait, born 1869 at Gateshead. By 1891 they were living at 1, South Street, Felling, where William Snr was employed as an upholsterer, ten years later they had moved to 58, Ridley Terrace. At the age of 20 William Gordon was employed as a confectioner’s clerk, his brother John (15) worked for an engineers as a pattern maker, Eleanor (12) attended school. Dorothy Tait, Margaret Ann’s widowed mother lived with them in 5 rooms at 21, Kenmir Street.
On the outbreak of war William Gordon Wright enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in September 1914 assigned as Private 16/676 to the 16th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. During his period of training he was transferred to the 1st/5th Battalion Essex Regiment as Private 36654.
The 1st/5th Battalion was a Territorial Force and as such after initial training was attached to the 161st Brigade, 54th (East Anglian) Division and departed from Devonport bound for Gallipoli, July 21st 1915. They landed at Sulva Bay, August 12th 1915 but were evacuated from Gallipoli December 4th 1915 and moved to Mundros, going on to Alexandria, December 17th 1915. The battalion remained with the 54th Division in Egypt and Palestine for the duration of the war and it was here that Private Wright joined his Regiment in the field during 1916.
December 28th 1916 the 1st/5th Battalion Essex Regiment arrived at El Rahman and made it their Brigade HQ. March 26th 1917 the 4th and 5th Battalions fought during the 1st Battle of Gaza, the first attempt by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force to invade the south of Palestine, followed by the 2nd Battle of Gaza, April 16th 1917 and the 3rd Battle of Gaza which was fought at the end of October beginning of November 1917.
During this final battle the four Essex Battalion were again part of the 161st Brigade 54th Division. November 2nd 1917 the 1st/5th Battalion attacked on the right side of the line taking Zowalid trench but coming under intense fire when trying to take Rafah Redoubt and suffered many casualties. 2 officers and 73 other ranks were killed, amongst them was Private 36654 William Gordon Wright Essex Regiment. He is interred at Gaza War Cemetery grave XXII. B. 6. situated 3 kilometres from Gaza and 65 kilometres from Tel Aviv, Israel.
His widow Margaret received all monies due to him, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 5, West Terrace, Western Hill, Durham and a pension for herself and their daughter Margaret V. Wright born after her father’s departure for the front. She commissioned at a cost of 5 shilling 3 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Until The Dawn Breaks”.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 20/07/1917 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads: 0
Private W. Gordon Wright, serving with E.E.F., Egypt, killed in action Nov. 2nd. Husband of Mary Wright, Western Hill, Durham, and son of William and Margaret Wright, 21 Kenmir Street, Felling. A memorial service will be held in Felling Congregational Church on Sunday, Nov. 25th at 6 p.m.
