Dead or Alive? WRIGHT. J.T 4454326

Discussion in 'Durham Light Infantry' started by Mr Jinks, Jan 30, 2019.

  1. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    On the Chas Eagles / George Iceton memorial thread `Steve Mac` highlighted an old thread in relation to George Iceton..
    That thread dealt with an original enquiry into 7 DLI soldiers whom are listed as died on 16th June 1940 ? I searched through the first six ..all listed Killed in Action .

    The seventh soldier WRIGHT .J.T. 4454326 is also listed as having been killed in action on 16th June 1940 the CWGC show him as being commemorated on the Dunkirk memorial.
    In 1940 this casualty list appears to confirm the death? Casualty List 269 31st July 1940.
    GBM_WO417_015_0295.jpg
    However an amended casualty list contradicts this listing him as wounded and a prisoner of war?
    GBM_WO417_019_0231.jpg
    In 1941 another casualty list records that Wright is indeed a PoW and the original entry listing him as killed should be deleted?
    GBM_WO417_023_0152.jpg
    I checked the Prisoner of War records and sure enough on two separate listings Wright is listed with an (early) PoW number of 68 at Stalag 344?
    GBM_POW-GALLIP_15-0273_GB-SRY_WO_392-WAR-OFFICE-DIRECTORATE-OF-PRISONERS--1-1943-1945_00487.jpg
    and again?
    GBM_POW-GALLIP_101600962_00538.jpg
    Then in 1945 the listing states Wright is no longer a PoW (liberated?)
    GBM_WO417_094_0563.jpg

    Any thoughts? I also found the birth of (a) John Thompson Wright South Shields 16th December 1920 died 1990 in Darlington ? The CWGC list him as aged 19 at the time of (their) recorded death which matches how old this lad would have been (if) when he died?

    Thanks

    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2019
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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    In the 1939 Register there is another possible

    Name: John T Wright
    Gender: Male
    Marital status: Single
    Birth Date: 2 Jul 1921
    Residence Year: 1939
    Address: 1 Third. Avenue
    Residence Place: Ashington, Northumberland, England
    Occupation: Colliery Transit Worker Below

    Makes him 18 in Jul 1939 - dont know if he would be too young

    or perhaps
    Name: John T Wright Jun
    Gender: Male
    Marital status: Single
    Birth Date: 24 Dec 1915
    Residence Year: 1939
    Address: 16
    Residence Place: Consett, Durham, England
    Occupation: Coal Miner Ass SURVEYOR & Overman Un??

    Obviously havent checked their death details yet but posting them to show that there could be others and I guess think about maybe work out a year of birth range. Where all those sent in DLI with the BEF regulars or not?, may help define their age/birth year

    Obviously service records would be nice but death details would be needed
    TD
     
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  3. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Hello TD,

    He was listed as 6th DLI ,Territorials and the CWGC give his age as 19. The CWGC army number is consistant through all the documents? The
    Newcastle Journal 05 December 1940 lists him as wounded and a prisoner?


    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2019
  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    mmmmmm that's interesting. He is also recorded in the 'War Deaths (Army - Other Ranks) 1939 - 1948' register.
    Wright 1.jpg
    Not sure what to suggest, there are too many potential births or deaths for the potential combination of first names, it is possible that he didn't come from the Durham area.

    Newspaper cutting for DLI, perhaps one in your list?
    Wright 2.jpg

    I wonder if it is worth contacting the CWGC with your evidence - which seems pretty conclusive - and ask for their comments? Alternatively has anyone on here got the war diaries for that period?
     
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  5. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Hi Tony,

    I think I can get hold of the war diary however the date given for his death by the CWGC has the 6th DLI back in the UK. The number 4454326 is from the DLI allocation for 1939. The 6th DLI recruited from the Bishop Auckland area of Co Durham (8th DLI Birtley/Chester le St 9th DLI Gateshead) I believe the records at least disprove a date of death in June 1940 ? I think I will bundle this off or I may just ring them first I would be interested in what they make of this? He features in the WW2 Book of remembrance in Durham Cathedral too !

    Thanks

    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2019
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  6. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Sent the query over to Jim at
    DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY 1920-46
    Kyle
     
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  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Possible bandsman & POW John Wright

    Checking the 1939 Register for John Wright with a wife Janet living in 'Great Barr'

    1939 England and Wales Register
    Name: John S Wright
    Gender: Male
    Marital status: Married
    Birth Date: 15 Jan 1888
    Residence Year: 1939
    Address: 238a
    Residence Place: Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
    Occupation: Assistant Engineer & Electrical
    Schedule Number: 104
    Sub Schedule Number: 1
    Enumeration District: OTKI
    Registration district: 367/1
    Inferred Spouse: Janet M Wright

    Middle initial is S, so I would guess that discounts him ?

    TD
     
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  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Not thinking straight here - The John S Wright above was born in 1888, so maybe its his son and the mother Janet

    Name: John D A Wright
    Gender: Male
    Marital status: Single
    Birth Date: 20 Aug 1920
    Residence Year: 1939
    Address: 238a
    Residence Place: Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
    Occupation: Public Works Construction Clerk
    Schedule Number: 104
    Sub Schedule Number: 3
    Enumeration District: OTKI
    Registration district: 367/1
    Inferred Father: John S Wright
    Inferred Mother: Janet M Wright

    Having said that the man in the photo purportedly John Wright looks a lot older than someone born in 1920 and younger than someone born in 1888, however the toll imprisonment is unknown

    Sorry - that seems to confuse even further

    TD
     
  9. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920
    Name: John Thompson Wright
    Birth Date: 16 Sep 1908
    Birth Place: Bangalore

    Document Year: 1898
    Relationship to Soldier: Child
    Form Title: Military History Sheet
    Number of Images: 14
    Other Records:
    Family Members:
    Name Relation to Soldier
    John Wright Self (Head)
    Mabel Audeley Frost Spouse
    Mabel Audrey Wright Child
    John Thompson Wright Child
    George Henry Wright Child
    Bertha Margaret Wright Child

    Having grown up this J T Wright might have joined the military directly

    TD
     
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  10. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    He was born in 17 September 1908:-
    Wright JT.jpg
     
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  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
    Name: John Thompson Wright
    Death Age: 77
    Birth Date: 17 Sep 1908
    Registration Date: Jul 1986
    Registration district: Chester and ellesmere Port
    Inferred County: Cheshire
    Volume: 35
    Page: 62

    You right Mr Tony

    TD
     
  12. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION
    Wright Household (3 People)
    Oak Dene, Chester Road, Ellesmere Port U.D., Cheshire
    NAME - DOB - OCCUPATION
    John T Wright - 17 Sep 1908 - Builders Joiner By Trade
    Dorothy Wright - 01 Dec 1910 - Unpaid Domestic Duties
    John T Wright - 02 Jun 1939 - Under School Age
     
  13. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Hello All,

    First may I thank you all for the input on this thread your research skills are very much appreciated and your concern to rectify a possible error is a credit to you all in the search for the truth....unlike the CWGC who once again give the impression that `its too much bother`

    Tonight I received this email from Jim (verrieres) in regard to his CWGC enquiry it is ..well..its....
    CWGC;-
    Frustrating (I think Jim can be prompted to get these service records it will eat him away otherwise :) )

    Kyle
     
  14. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Well perhaps a welcome change of fortune?

    kyle
     
  15. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Afternoon Kyle,

    I wonder if there is anything in the local press from this time.

    Presumably, Pte. Wright’s next of kin would have received an MoD telegram notifying his death and then another correcting this misinformation. These sort of things were reported in the local newspapers, for example, ‘X’ of St James Road, who was reported missing in action on 16 June 1940, is now reported prisoner of war. His parents Jack and Jill are delighted with this news. These articles were usually accompanied by a photograph of the serviceman/woman concerned.

    Have you checked local newspaper sources?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2019
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  16. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Good Afternoon Steve,
    Steve, Thompson was his middle name ie John Thompson Wright.
    I did do a search but I couldn`t find a definite match ? Plenty of J.T.Wright`s I will search again for other spellings such as Thomson Wright and see it that brings anything up? I did find a published casualty list listing him as `wounded and a prisoner` but those would have been taken from the War Office listings I put up in post one? I will look again.Thanks

    Kyle

     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2019
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  17. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    I have corrected the surname, Kyle. I was having a ‘blonde’ moment!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  18. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Update.Things appear to be moving along ?



    Kyle
     
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  19. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    ALIVE!
    Latest email from DLI Website.
    Kyle
     
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  20. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    I wonder if Mr Wright knew he was officially dead? How did he obtain his service pension? Did his wife get a widows pension?

    So many unanswered questions...
     
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