Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Wright was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, one of 4 children of whom only 3 survived, he was the eldest of 2 sons and a daughter born to James Wright of Newcastle and Hannah native of Alnwick, Northumberland, born 1870 and 1869 respectively.
His parents after their marriage in 1890 were living at 71, Cambridge Street, Elswick a suburb of Newcastle, James was employed as a billposter. By the time John was 8 years old he was an advertising agent, they had moved to 2 Brewery Street, near Westgate Road, Newcastle and Hannah had given birth to their daughter Isabella in 1901 who was five months old. Their family was complete by 1911 with the birth of James Jnr in 1904. James Wright senior was now an advertising manager, John his assistant. Living with them at 326, Westgate Road was 26-year-old nephew Robert White, a builder.
John Wright enlisted at Gateshead assigned as Private 6694 to the Durham Light Infantry and transferred to the 1st/8th Battalion a Territorial Force. The battalion had been at its annual camp with the rest of the Northumbrian Division when war was declared and having returned to their HQ in Durham, August 4th 1914, they were posted to the coastal defences at Roker and Whitburn. Private Wright and the other new recruits over the following months were trained at Boldon, Ravensworth and Newcastle for full time service overseas. Whilst the main body of the regiment departed to France, April 17th 1915, Private Wright did not join them until after January 1916 where they were in training for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme, however they did not take part in any major front line attacks until the Battle of Morval, September 25th-28th 1916.
Wounded in the line of duty Private Wright died 29th September 1916 and was buried by his comrades on the battlefield, approximate map reference 57D.x.29. a. 2. 3. his grave marked with a cross bearing his military details.
After the Armistice during the clearing of the battlefields his remains, along with those of many others, were found by the 113th Labour Corps, exhumed and brought into Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Somme, France, for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army chaplain, March 3rd 1919. Private 6694 John Wright is at rest, grave VII. F. 6. At the time of his demise in 1916 he was 23 years old and single.
His father James Wright commissioned at a cost of 12 shillings 6 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Ever Remembered By Father, Mother Sister And Brother.”
As his sole legitimate beneficiary his father also received all monies due to his son and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 326, Westgate Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Newcastle Journal 31/10/1916 reports :-
Private James Wright, 326 Westgate Road Newcastle was killed on September 27th.
Correct address, wrong date of death 27th not 29th and wrong christian name but James his brother was far too young to be a serving soldier!
John Wright is not remembered on a local War Memorial although there is a James Wright at Elswick on E35.14 and E35.35
He is remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 267
