Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Wright a colliery engine stoker, born 1859 in Osgathorpe, Leics., and his wife Mary Ann Wright (nee Bail), born 1860 in Birmingham, Warwks. Arthur was born in 1894 in Swannington, Leics., his siblings were, John, a fitter’s labourer, born 1881, Charles, a coal mine labourer, born 1885, George, a fitter’s labourer, born 1887, Albert, born 1891 and Walter, born 1892, the latter five siblings were all born in Swannington, Leics., Herbert, born 1896 and Henry, born 1898, the latter two siblings were both born in Coalville, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at West End Cottages, Coalville, Leics. In the second quarter of 1915 Arthur married Elsie M. Kendrick in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire marriage registration district. On Wednesday February 14th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES” – Lance-Corpl. Arthur Wright, Leicestershire Regiment, whose wife lives at 41, Berrisford Street, Coalville, has been killed in action, and was buried on the 5th inst. The deceased, who was 23 years of age, and enlisted soon after the outbreak of war, leaves a widow, and a baby only a month old. He was an insurance agent, and one of four brothers serving in the Army. He wrote to his sister, Mrs Percival, of Breach Cottages, Coalville three days before his funeral, expressing gratification that a little girl had been born, and he would be glad when he could get home to see it, but his relatives were to keep smiling. Deceased was married two years ago. On Monday March 5th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR” – (A photograph accompanied the article). Lance Corporal Arthur Wright, Leicestershire Regt., killed in action Feb. 3. He was 33 years of age, and his widow and infant lived at 44, Berrisford Street, Coalville. The War Diary for today records that the Battalion relieved the 2nd Sherwood Foresters in the front line, the relief being completed by 1.15pm. Dispositions as follows:- Right C Company 2 Platoon’s No.9 post, 1 Platoon No.10 post and 1 Platoon Stansfield – Fosse Tunnels – Company HQ Stansfield Tunnels. Left D Company 1 Platoon N. Crater, 1 Platoon S Crater, 1 Platoon No. 11 post and 1 Platoon Mouse Run – Company HQ’s Crown Trench. Centre Attack Company A Company 1 Platoon O.G.I., 1 Platoon Highland Trench, 2 Platoons Stansfield Road, Company HQ’s O.G.I. -?- B Company 1 Platoon Stansfield Road, 3 Platoon’s and Company HQ’s O.B.I. At 5.50pm Operational Order No. 137 received as to proposed raid by 2nd Sherwood Foresters on 9th -?-. Enemy active with aerial -?- in S. Crater. Casualties 2 other ranks killed and 6 wounded all from D Company.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday February 16th, 1917

COALVILLE INSURANCE AGENT KILLED

ONE OF FOUR SOLDIER BROTHERS

News was received in Coalville on Wednesday that Lance-Corporal Arthur Wright, of the Leicestershire Regiment, whose wife resides at 44, Berrisford Street, has been killed in action. The deceased soldier was only 23 years of age, and the young wife, to whom he has been married since he enlisted, in November, 1914, is left with one child. Before the war, he was a local agent of the Pearl Insurance Co. His parents live in Margaret Street, Coalville, and he was one of four soldier brothers. The other three are, Sergeant Walter Wright, of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who before the war was in the Coventry City Police Force, and Privates Herbert and Henry Wright, of the Leicestershire Regiment.

The news of Arthur’s death was conveyed in a letter from Herbert to his sister, Mrs Jacobs of Margaret Street, the writer stating that his brother died a painless death, and he (Herbert) had seen the grave in which he was buried on February 5th.

Up to yesterday, no official communication had been received by the deceased’s soldier’s wife. She received letters from her husband on Thursday and Friday last, in which he then stated that he was well, but they were written a day or so before the date on which he is reported to have been killed.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 30th, 1917

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service was held in the Coalville P.M. Church on Sunday evening for Lance-Corporal A. Wright of the Leicestershire Regiment, who was killed in action on February 5th. The service was conducted by the Rev. T. J. Martin, and the choir, under the direction of Mr F. Clay, rendered the anthem, “Wait, I say, on the Lord”. Mr W. H. Richards being the organist.

Lance-Corporal Wright was formerly an insurance agent, and was only 23 years of age, his wife and child residing in Berrisford Street, and his parents in Margaret Street. He was one of four soldier brothers.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 19/10/2017