Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

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.