Herbert Wright, 16th Battalion Manchester Regiment

[8055bell]

Hi All,
I'm trying to identify a very young man killed on 1st July 1916, just 6 weeks out of school.  My best bet is currently:-
27048 Herbert Wright. He is commemorated at Thiepval and has no known resting place and no Additional Information on CWGC. SDGW states has born and resident in Salford. His MIC shows no entitlement to the 1914-15 Star. Census records show a range of Herbert Wrights born in Salford 1898-99 and resident in 1911.  My guess is the chap with mother Harriet and brother Joseph who lived at N Johnson St in 1911. Mack tells me he lived at North Cable Street and was mentioned in MEN on 29/7/16.

Any help would be appreciated.

Happy New Year

Tim

[Deleted]

Where does the info come from he is just out of school?

Manchester Evening News 29 July 1916

[shred]

Hi Tim,

Happy New Year to you.

I cannot find any articles that were printed in the Salford Reporter or Eccles Journal.

Unsure if the following information helps?
I believe his father was Private - 129178 - John Wright, Army Service Corps. John attested in September 1915 giving his address as 34 Cannon St, Salford. Wife is Harriet Millership, son Joseph (not sure if these details would have been added when John applied for a pension in August 1916 - after Herbert's death). N.B. Service record available on Ancestry.

There is also a pension record available on Ancestry and on the 21.09.1916 John gives his address as 1 North Cable St, Salford.

Garry

[shred]

Herbert's will is available online probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=wright&SurnameGrants=wright&YearOfDeath=1916&YearOfDeathGrants=1916&IsGrantSearch=False&IsCalendarSearch=False&page=4#soldiers

[8055bell]

Thanks both,
You've given me some great avenues. I'll let you know how I get on.

Scout Serjeant Bert Payne's IWM interview with Lyn Macdonald mentions a young man who was shot down next to Bert in the approach to Montauban. Bert said the man was "only out of school six weeks", arrived on the day before the Montauban assault on 1st July 1916 and "couldn't hold a butty knife, never mind a bayonet".

I narrowed down the casualties by the higher regimental numbers to make an informed guess at Herbert. The 1911 census gives an 1898 DoB and I'll what else I can find now.
Tim

[8055bell]

Ben & Garry,
I've hit a wall. Just can't find any more records for Herbert other than 1911 Census. I wonder if the family went abroad or workhouse??
Any tips would be appreciated.
Tim

[shred]

Tim,

Sorry to say that I have not been able to track the family in 1901.

I am quite sure that the following man is John Wright (father) on the 1911 census. He is staying at a guest house in Greengate, shown as married and working as a porter in a fish market.

Name: John Wright
Age in 1911: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Relation to Head: Lodger
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Miles Phatting, Greater Manchester, England
Civil Parish: Salford
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Porter Fish Masket
Registration district: Salford
Registration District Number: 465
Sub-registration district: Greengate
ED, institution, or vessel: 15

[8055bell]

Thanks Garry,
This looks to be a likely candidate.
Tim