Pte Reginald Wright

[BrianR]

In our local graveyard there is a family headstone,one of inscriptions says : Pte Reginald Wright of HMS Madras,died 25/2/1915,buried in Hong Kong. His name appears on our war memorial but I can find no trace of him and,surprisingly no trace of HMS Madras,it has been suggested that he may have died of influenza.Can anyone help please ?

[Coldstreamer]

Try SS Madras ??

[Coldstreamer]

that's about the limit of my sea knowledge!

[little bob]

A possible, the date is way out but this chap is buried in Hong Kong.

Pte.,83371 Reginald Wright Royal Army Medical Corps died 26th February 1919 aged 26.

Bob

[Peterhastie]

Our graveyard/memorial where?, anymore info d.o.b. etc

What is the rest of the headstone inscription, re family?

[Stephen Nulty]

This is linked to my earlier query

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=199480&hl=

which was supporting Brian's quest for knowledge of Pte Wright

[Peterhastie]

There are 40 British Army Service records on Ancestry for Reginald Wrights, albeit some with middle names.

If there is more family related info on the headstone, a dob for Reginald Wright could be found and maybe attached to a service record.

The date of death is four years out, for the RAMC man. Yes, it could be an error on the family headstone, or, it may not.

[kenmorrison]

There was a Hospital Ship "Madras" . This info is from a philatelic site

http://stampomania.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/world-war-i-red-cross-related-labels.html

This ship was built in 1914 by British India Steam Navigation Company for BI's Calcutta-Far East service named as Tanda. The ship was taken over by Indian authorities as soon as first world war started, converted to hospital ship duties and renamed Madras.

So the only variation is in the day (25 or 26) and the year (1915 mis read???)

Ken

[Peterhastie]

Yeah Ok, there was a hospital ship called Madras

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CEYLON-HUSSEIN-HOSPITAL-MADRAS-WRIGHT/dp/B0053WL306

http://www.pictorialgems.com/1915-On-Board-Indian-Hospital-Ship-Madras.62286

just wanted to make sure

[BrianR]

Sorry,my mistake he died 25/2/1919,not as posted.

[BrianR]

_{Re Hospital ship Madras.Assuming this "was" the ship referred to on the family grave and the HMS bit is incorrect,what would an British RAMC man be doing on it.Still haven't found out cause of death,what would be the best(and cheapest)way to do this ?}

[NRP.HKP]

Headstone in the Hong Kong Cemetery,Happy Valley,Plot 3 - 8337

Sacred to the memory of Reginald Wright Private RAMC who died 26 Feb 1919 Aged 26 years - errected by his comrades.

Photo of headstone on the findagrave website.

[BrianR]

_{I am pleased to report success with my search into Pte Reginald Wright.I had almost all his details but can now confirm the following.He served with the RAMC aboard the SS Ambulance Transport "Madras" where regrettably he dies of Pneumonia on 25th,Feb 1919.He is buried in the Happy Valley Cemetary,Hong Kong and has a headstone in his name on which is inscribed at the bottom "Errected by his comrades"}

_{The vessel was originally a passenger/cargo carrier built in Govan for the British Indian Steam Navigation Co and named The Tanda. She was subsequently taken up by the Indian Govt and converted into a Hospital Ship (and later an Ambulance Ship) and renamed the Madras in recognition of the Madras War fund which provided the money raised voluntarily.In May 1920 she was returned to B.I. and renamed "Tanda" In July 1940 she was carrying general cargo when she was torpedoed off Mangalore by U-181.Of the 177 crew,18 were lost along with one passenger all others wer rescued by H.M.I.S. "Bihar" and landed at Columbo.}