Help required in tracing this man - 2Lt Alan Wright MGC + HLI

[SANDY_LEISHMAN]

A woman called Mrs Young, From Freuchie in Fife, Contacted the museum last week, she was looking for any information on her Father; 2Lt Alan Wright, according to his New Testament he was:

Pte 264(?)5 Alan Wright E Coy Glasgow Highlanders BEF (Dated Aug 1915) which was given to him by Mrs Stein and Friends of Sighthill U.F. Church, Springburn, Glasgow

on a discharge letter from the War Office dated 31st March 1919 (Ref No. WI/1717 [M.S. 4K]) he has the following:

2 Lieut A Wright Machine Gun Corps, 25 Kay Street, Springburn, Glasgow

I've searched through all the material at my disposal, but with no Joy, was wondering if any Forum Pals fancied having a shot?

[sotonmate]

Sandy

There are 30 WRIGHT As listed in the NA Catalogue in the Officer service record series WO339,with no rank shown,and two with that name and the correct rank of 2/Lieut. A search of the Index WO338 will reduce this considerably as I believe that a unit is listed also. In addition it is probable that his OR papers are enclosed in the file. So,worth a chase round. If you can PM me any targets by Monday 14th I will look on Tuesday 15th and send you a summary of his file.

Sotonmate

[roughdiamond]

Sandy

I reckon this is your man listed as L.Wright, he's a private HLI and Lt MGC which fits exactly, the thing is the listing doesn't quote a service No in the HLI, you'd have to look at the MIC.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...resultcount=147

Sam

[apwright]

The MIC for L.Wright doesn't show a service number for the HLI, but gives the battalion as the 19th.

Adrian

P.S. "Mrs Keir", perhaps?

[roughdiamond]

The MIC for L.Wright doesn't show a service number for the HLI, but gives the battalion as the 19th.

Adrian

P.S. "Mrs Keir", perhaps?

Adrian

The Glasgow Highlanders were the 1/9th Bn HLI, could it be 1/9th rather than 19th which didn't leave the UK? The 1/9th landed in France 05/11/14, is there an entry date on his MIC?

Sam

[apwright]

The card is only for the 14/15 Star, so theoretically there could be another...

The only other info is Date of Entry 20/1/15 at Rouen.

There's no address on the back as the claim was submitted by GOC Machine Gun Training Centre Headquarters Grantham on 4/3/19.

Adrian

EDIT: handwritten number (?roll no.) on bottom of card is EF/9/1801.

[roughdiamond]

Looking at his HLI number I tried the 10 possibilities of 2?65 HLI and came up with 2065 Pte Wright. J this time, he was later 31927 acting Lance Sergeant Scottish Rifles, mistake again with the initial?

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=5

I'm guessing his MIC in Adrians post was a replacement maybe? it'd be ideal to see what his full name was.

I had a look on Scotlands people and there is only one birth of an Alan Wright in the whole of Scotland from 1880 till 1900 and he was born in 1900 so I doubt its him unless he lied about his age and used a different forename to enlist, which would explain the disparity on the MIC.

Sandy, maybe worth checking with the lady to confirm his forename, DOB and place of birth to clear it up.

Sam

[Phil Evans]

There is an Alan Wright MGC in WO 338, but I haven't been able to translate it into the current system, so here is the full entry, in the hope that some-one can do better than me:

Wright; Alan; MGC (Infantry) W9/1415; (272825); 2/Lt

The only L Wright I can see is Lawrence Victor W Wright and it's definitely not him.

Phil

[roughdiamond]

There is an Alan Wright MGC in WO 338, but I haven't been able to translate it into the current system, so here is the full entry, in the hope that some-one can do better than me:

Wright; Alan; MGC (Infantry) W9/1415; (272825); 2/Lt

The only L Wright I can see is Lawrence Victor W Wright and it's definitely not him.

Phil

There is a MIC for Lawrence V W Wright who started as a Pte in the Royal West Surrey's, so the one for L. Wright still maybe the correct one.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=2

[headgardener]

According to his New Testament he was in France (addressed to him c/o BEF), it's definately addressed "to" him dated Aug '15, and it definately shows his initial as "A" on his 'Release' form, so something should theoretically turn up for a star, even if he didn't claim his pair (assuming they were named to him as an officer).

And there's no mention of him in the nominal roll in "Come On, Highlanders!", which I think was culled from the medal rolls (but it wouldn't be the first.... ahem.... typo.... that I've encountered in the book).

And the 19th HLI (on 'L. Wright's MIC) were a reserve battalion, home service only, never went overseas.

So could it be a mis-spelt, un-numbered, mis-attributed 'L. Wright'?

Which leaves us with just his officer's papers, if they're there.

[SANDY_LEISHMAN]

Sandy

There are 30 WRIGHT As listed in the NA Catalogue in the Officer service record series WO339,with no rank shown,and two with that name and the correct rank of 2/Lieut. A search of the Index WO338 will reduce this considerably as I believe that a unit is listed also. In addition it is probable that his OR papers are enclosed in the file. So,worth a chase round. If you can PM me any targets by Monday 14th I will look on Tuesday 15th and send you a summary of his file.

Sotonmate

I'll have a look this morning and try and let you know.... thanks

[SANDY_LEISHMAN]

Sandy

I reckon this is your man listed as L.Wright, he's a private HLI and Lt MGC which fits exactly, the thing is the listing doesn't quote a service No in the HLI, you'd have to look at the MIC.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...resultcount=147

Sam

Sam

Think this is indeed our man..... unusual sort of card though

[SANDY_LEISHMAN]

a huge thanks to all, the usual high calibre response from the pals... BZ

I'll talk to Mrs Young and find out if he went by any other names, place of birth etc etc and let everyone know, an interesting case eh?