Claude Algernon Wright

Western Mail 15 Dec 1916 page 23
Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Serpentine, Western Australia
Death	29 Jul 1916
Place of Death	Poziéres, France
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 6 months
Description	5'3" (1.60m) tall; weight 108 lbs (49kg); medium complexion, grey eyes, brown hair.
Occupation	clerk
Religion	Church of England
Address	NOK 61 Jewell street, East Perth, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr George Thomas Wright
Military Information
Reg Number	3317
Date of Enlistment	13 Sep 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 7th reinforcement to 14 Platoon, D Company / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	18 Jan 1916 - 16 Feb 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A7 Medic
Fate	Killed in Action 29 Jul 1916 Poziéres
Monument	Mundijong
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Had tried to enlist in Sep 1914, but was rejected on chest measurement. Soon after entering camp in Sep 1915, Claude was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion (1 Nov 1915), travelling with them to Alexandria, in Egypt. On 21 Mar 1916 he embarked on HMT Oriana in Alexandria, and disembarked in Marseilles, France on 27 Mar 1916.

On 8 Jun 1916 he was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion as it extricated itself from the support trenches and marched to billets at "Rue Dormoire". They returned to the trenches on 28 Jun 1916.

During the early evening of 28 Jul 1917 the 28th Battalion moved into position to attack German trenches north of Poziéres. 10 minutes after midnight the enemy seemed to have wind of the attack, and unleashed a heavy barrage of high explosive and shrapnel shells causing casualties. When the attack commenced, it was to find that hte enemy's wire was intact, and they began to suffer heavy casualties. By 2:00am on 29 Jul 1916 it was obvious that no further advance was possible and the troops that could were withdrawn to their earlier positions. Casualties for the day included 63 killed, 151 wounded, and 257 missing. Claude was one of the latter group. His status remained unresolved until 4 Jan 1917 when a Court of Enquiry judged that he had been killed in action on the morning of 29 Jul 1916.

Red Cross file:

"Wright - name Claude. Was missing at Pozieres when we went over at midnight on July 28th. He was in 14 Platoon. I did not see what became of him, but Ted Harris in my platoon (16), told me he had a letter from Wright's Mother to say that she had been informed definately that he was killed." Lee W.P. Pte 3175

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  Villers Bretonneux Memorial 2015 L. Reynolds
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  Section of 28th Battalion panels photo 2015 L. Reynolds