William Earnest WRIGHT

Regimental number53107
Date of birth28 January 1894
Place of birthLower Hutt
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Marital statusSingle
Height6' 0.75"
Weight164 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs S Wright, 42 Lincoln Road, Masterton
Previous military serviceServed for 4 years in the 17th Regiment, Territorial Force.
Enlistment date23 February 1917
Rank on embarkationCorporal
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 28th Reinforcements (First Draft), Wellington Infantry Regiment, B Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT Waitemata on 14 July 1917
Final rankPrivate
Final unit1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 8 January 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 14 July 1917; admitted to ship's Isolation Hospital (syphilis) for return to New Zealand; disembarked Albany, Western Australia, 30 July 1917 (Medical Board).

Embarked Fremantle, 13 March 1918; disembarked Suez, 4 April 1918.

Embarked Port Tewfik, 30 April 1918; disembarked Southampton, England, 15 May 1918; marched in to Durrington Camp, Larkhill, 25 May 1918.

Admitted to Military Hospital, Tidworth, 25 May 1918 (rubella), and reverted to the ranks; discharged to duty, 12 June 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 18 September 1918; joined 1st Bn, Wellington Infantry Regiment, in the field, 24 September 1918, and posted to 9th Company.

Wounded in action, 12 October 1918 (gun shot wound, arm, jaw and neck), and admitted to 1/1 East Lancashire Field Ambulance; transferred to 18th Casualty Clearing Station, 13 October 1918; to 6th General Hospital, Rouen, 14 October 1918; to England, and admitted to Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, 22 October 1918; discharged from No 1 NZ General Hospital to NZ Command Depot, Codford, 10 December 1918, and granted furlough until 28 December 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Tilbutry on board HMNZT 'Matatua', 8 January 1919; discharged (medically unfit on account of wounds received in action), 17 April 1919.

War service: 2 years 19 days (of which 1 year 223 days was abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Cause of death: cerebral tumour
Miscellaneous detailsParents: Jessie and Sarah WRIGHT (both b. England)
Date of death28 November 1929 Masterton
Age at death35
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 69, p. 6
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805

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