LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Private Ernest Frank Wright
9th Bn. Norfolk Regiment
Town Memorial P9.R3.C2
Pte
Ernest F. Wright
9th Norfolk Regt.
Oct 30 1918
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
In the Autumn of 1918 and early 1919 an infuenza epidemic known as the Spanish Flu ravaged Western Europe and killed whole families.
The Parish Magazine of December 1918 states that Ernest Wright was buried on 2nd November 1918 [nine days later the war ended], a week before George Alexander. It records that they "had succumbed to the onset of infuenza and pneumonia, their resistance having been impaired by the severity of wounds sustained for which they had been discharged from the Army". ²
The Parish Magazine of May 1915 shows E[N] Wright serving with the 9th Bn. Norfolks.¹
Sources
1. Parish Magazine of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, May 1915,
via Mr L Anstee
2. Parish Magazine of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, Dec 1918
| Name: WRIGHT,
EF Rank: Private Regiment: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 9th Bn. Date of Death: 30/10/1918 Service No: 14852 Grave/Memorial Reference: In East part. [local grave no. 1142] Cemetery: LEATHERHEAD (SS. MARY AND NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD His Attestation Form for 3 years with the Colours, Norfolk Regiment, on which his age was given as 21 and occupation as a Labourer, was dated 5th September 1914, no place entered. He was Discharged on 1 August 1916 as no longer fit for service due to V.D.H (valvular disease of the heart). He was issued a Silver War Badge, 115898, on 12 January 1917. |
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His life
Ernest Frank Wright was born in Leatherhead on 26th July and baptised on
3 September 1893 at Leatherhead Parish Church when the family were
living at Langley Terrace, Kingston Road, Leatherhead.
His father was Thomas Granger Wright, born January 1858, Goldington, Bedfordshire. He was a son of William Wright (1834-1877) and Ann Todd (1831-1914). He was a Gardener.
His mother was Tryphena Odell, born in April 1848, also in Goldington, Bedfordshire where she was baptised on 25 June 1848. She was a daughter of William Odell (1820-1888) and Eliza Buck (1824-1908).
When she married Thomas she was a widow. Her first marriage was to George Gaines (1848-1875) at Thornaby on Tees on 15 April 1871. They had a daughter Eliza Jane Gaines, born July 1874.
Her marriage to Thomas Granger/Grainger Wright was on 24 December 1877 at All Saints, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
In the 1891 Census, Thomas and Tryphena Wright were recorded in Kingston Road Leatherhead, Thomas working as a Herdman, Tryphena as a Laundress - the children with them were Minnie Wright (12), Ethel (9), William Wright (6), George G (5) and Marion E (2).In the 1901 Census the family were living at 5 Langley Terrace, Kingston Road, Leatherhead - Thomas, Tryphena, William (16), Annie (9), Ernest (7) and a boarder, Frederick Lambert.
In the 1911 Census Ernest Wright, aged 18, was single and living with his parents at 3 Kingston Road Cottages, Kingston Road, Leatherhead. He was working as a Gardener.
| Name | Age | Occupation | born | |
| Thomas Granger Wright | 59 | Gardener Domestic | Bedford | |
| Tryphena Wright | 63 | Midwife | Goldington, Bedford | married for 34 yrs |
| George Wright | 24 | Tailor, at home | Leatherhead | a cripple for a year & 10 months old |
| Ernest Frank Wright | 18 | Gardener | Leatherhead | single |
| Herbert Wright | 4 | Leatherhead | ||
| Harry Jackson | 12 | schoolboy | Leatherhead | adopted |
Ernest F Wright's death was registered Q3 1918, Epsom. He was aged 26.
Leatherhead Parish Magazine
December 1918