No. 2917, 4nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment, who died on 15th July 1916 aged 22.

Archibald has no known grave and is remembered at Thiepval Memorial.

He was born in Melton, 1894, son of Sheperson and Mary Wright and lived in Mill Farm House, Hasketon.

He died during the Battle of the Somme whilst fighting near Bazentin-le-Petit.

Before the war he worked as a Farm labourer.

See also entry on Frank Wright.

Personal details.

Archibald Wright and Frank Wright were brothers, Archibald being the younger by 6 years.  Both served in the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment.

Their parents were Sheperson Wright, carpenter, [B. Woodbridge c1860] and Mary Wright (nee Turner) [B. Dedham 1862]. Based on the census information they seem to have moved around the area, living in Dedham in 1891, Hoo in 1901 and Mill Farm House, Hasketon in 1911.   Archibald was born in Melton 1894, his older brother Frank in Saxmundham in 1888.  They appear to have had two younger sisters, Mary Hope Ruth [B. Melton 1896] and Margery Dorothy [B. Melton, 1898] and an older sister Vivienne Louise Lewis [B. Benhall, 1886] who had already left home aged 14 or younger to care for the elderly Jane St. Ledger (possibly an aunt) in Chiswick.

Archibald married Esther S Ablitt in early June 1912 and it is believed they had a daughter Florence May born later that year. Esther was born in Burgh in 1892 and was working as a servant for the Goddard family in Hasketon in 1911 where it is likely she met Archibald, she was named as his next of kin in the Register of soldier’s effects.

War service.

According to the Army WW1 Medal Rolls index cards Archibald arrived in France on 28th February 1915, and is thus eligible for the British, Victory and 15 Star medals.  (Note John Williams also arrived in France on the dame day).

He may have taken part in 4th Battalion actions during 1915 including those in the Neuve Chapelle area.

His death on 15th July 1916 indicates he was killed during the Battle of the Somme when the 4th Battalion supported the 1st Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in an attack on German trenches near Bazentin-le-Petit during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge.  

See page on the Battle of the Somme for more details.