WRIGHT, Ernest Joseph
| Service Number: | 2704 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Newcastle New South Wales, Australia, March 1890 |
| Home Town: | Greta, Cessnock, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium - Broodseinde Ridge, 4 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Dochy Farm New British Cemetery Plot III, Row B, Grave 13 , Dochy Farm New British Cemetery, Passchendaele, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2704, 1st Pioneer Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2704, 1st Pioneer Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2704, 1st Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney |
Pte Ernest Joseph Wright
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
102 years ago today, on the 4th October 1917, Private Ernest Joseph Wright, 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion, miner from Scott Street, Greta, New South Wales, fell at the Battle of Broodseinde during the Passchendaele Campaign, age 27.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1679421
Service record states born at Newcastle, New South Wales about 1890 to parents unknown; husband of Mary Wright nee Johnstone (married 1913, Singleton, N.S.W., died? of 5 Ridge Street, Merewether, N.S.W. and Selwyn Street, Merewether, N.S.W.), Ernest enlisted March 1916 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138736996
Mr Wright is resting at Dochy Farm New British Cemetery, Belgium. Plot III Row B Grave 13.
Ernest has been remembered on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates, Merewether Public School Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 21st September 1917) and the Greta Soldiers' Obelisk.
Ernest and Mary had a son, Aubrey Edward Wright, born 22.6.1913 at Singleton, N.S.W., who died on the 2.7.1919, just 6 years of age, probably influenza, buried on the 3.7.1919. GENERAL-16. 5.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139447015
There is no headstone to remember young Aubrey, forgotten, therefore no memorial inscription to honour the supreme sacrifice of his father Ernest, so I have placed a memorial cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the memorialised grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/index.php/war-heroes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&aso=exact&s_f=id&data_search=415113#photo-1
Lest We Forget.
Submitted 4 October 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
One of the sadder gravesites awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
104 years ago today, on the 4th October 1917, Private Ernest Joseph Wright, 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion, (Reg No-2704), miner from Scott Street, Greta, New South Wales, fell at the Battle of Broodseinde during the Passchendaele Campaign, age 27.
No Roll of Honour circular submitted.
Born at Merewether or Newcastle, New South Wales about 1890 to J and? of Rose Street, Merewether, N.S.W.; husband of Mary Wright nee Johnstone (married 1913, Singleton, N.S.W., died? of 5 Ridge Street, Merewether, N.S.W. and Selwyn Street, Merewether, N.S.W.); their son Aubrey Edward (born 22.6.1913, Singleton, died 2.7.1919,) sleeping here.
At his farewell he was presented with a cardigan jacket at the Central Hall, Greta, N.S.W.
Mr. Wright is resting at Dochy Farm New British Cemetery, Belgium. Plot III Row B Grave 13. (many thanks to Eddy Lin for the headstone photos).
Ernest’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates, Merewether Public School Roll of Honor (photo, unveiled on the 21st September 1917, 98 names originally inscribed, 107 names now inscribed, 14 Fallen) and the Greta Soldiers' Obelisk.
Ernest and Mary had a son, Aubrey Edward Wright, born 22.6.1913 at Singleton, N.S.W., who died on the 2.7.1919, just 6 years of age, probably influenza, buried on the 3.7.1919. GENERAL-16. 5.
There is no headstone to remember young Aubrey, now long forgotten, therefore no memorial inscription to honour the supreme sacrifice of his father Ernest, so I have placed a memorial cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the memorialised grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service. GENERAL-16. 5.
Apparently, Ernest had a brother who also served during The Great War that I have not located.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.