WRIGHT, William Edward
| Service Number: | 54289 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 April 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st to 15th (NSW) Reinforcements |
| Born: | Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia, 1899 |
| Home Town: | Drummoyne, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Apr 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 54289, 34th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun 1918: | Involvement Private, 54289, 1st to 15th (NSW) Reinforcements, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Field Marshal embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 19 Jun 1918: | Embarked Private, 54289, 1st to 15th (NSW) Reinforcements, SS Field Marshal, Sydney | |
| 6 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 54289 |
Help us honour William Edward Wright's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
William Edward Wright, son of William Joseph Wright, was born around 1899. He lived within Drummoyne, New South Wales [1].
He attended Sydney Technical High School during 1913 and 1914[2]. Following his education, Edward entered the work force as a clerk, an occupation he would keep early into the war. He volunteered to join the Australian Infantry Forces on the 30th of April 1917. His father consented to his enlistment but requested that Edward did not embark until after his 19th birthday. Edward completed several months of training before embarking aboard the captured German passenger-cargo ship SS Field Marshal on 19 June 1918. During this voyage, Edward would become the acting Sergeant, organising his men aboard the ship. he reverted to Private after the voyage and marched in to the 9th Training Battalion.
However it is known that Edward stayed in England serving for several months, being promoted to an Acting Corporal (a temporary appointment) from late-November to May of 1919, later confirmed as Temporary Corporal (a more permanent appointment) until mid-July [11]. Edward would ultimately return to Australia safely on the 22nd of September 1919 [13], being recommended for discharge in mid-November. William Edward Wright would officially conclude his service of World War 1 on the 6th of December in 1919 where he was formally discharged [14].
Unfortunately Edward’s records following his time within the military are limited and vague. Although it is known that he had attempted to apply for a Victory Medal on the 6th of January 1933, but was rejected due to eligibility issues because the medal was ‘issuable only to those who served on the strength of a Unit in a Theatre of war on or before 11th November 1918’ [15]. His personal life outside of the military is unspecified, especially if he ever married or had children, however it is likely that upon his return to Australia, he resumed working as a clerk.
Later records about William Edward Wright's life are still to be found, including information regarding his passing and burial location. However he will forever be memorialised on the Sydney Technical High School First World War Memorial [15].
Endnotes:
1. National Archives of Australia (p.2)
2. Sydney Technical High School Archives
3. National archives of Australia (p.2)
4. National archives of Australia (p.4)
5. National archives of Australia (p.3)
6. National archives of Australia (p.4)
7. The AIF Project
8. National archives of Australia (p.16)
9. National archives of Australia (p.16)
10. Australian War Memorial
11. National archives of Australia (p.23)
12. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
13. The AIF Project
14. National archives of Australia (p.27)
15. National archives of Australia (p.18/19)
16. Sydney Technical High School First World War Memorial
Bibliography
Adfa.edu.au. (2025). Details. [online]
Available at: https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=333435 (aif.adfa.edu.au)
Australian Government (2024). After the war. [online] Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Available at: https://www.dva.gov.au/media/media-backgrounders/after-war. (www.dva.gov.au)
Google Drive. (2024). WRIGHT W - William Edward - Google Drive. [online]
Available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1G0vdqJ8-iSV3ACwpubrdXYwFlrKmqEuV (drive.google.com)
Naa.gov.au. (2025). Item details. [online]
Available at: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=3450867 (recordsearch.naa.gov.au)
Nsw.gov.au. (2022). Sydney Technical High School First World War Honour Roll | NSW War Memorials Register. [online]
Available at: https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/sydney-technical-high-school-ww1-honour-roll-bexley (www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au)
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). 34th Australian Infantry Battalion. [online]
Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51474 (www.awm.gov.au)