Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Wright, a solicitors clerk, born 1851 in Matlock, Derbyshire and his wife Eleanor Wright (nee Clarke, married in the 4th quarter of 1878 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1857 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire. Eric William, a schoolboy, was born in the 2nd quarter of 1884 in Quorn, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Evelyn Nelly, a schoolgirl, born 1879, Joseph Cecil, a schoolboy, born 1883, Ida May, a schoolgirl, born 1886, the latter three siblings were all born in Quorn and Ailsa Grace, born 1888 in Syston, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at 53, Gopsall Street, Leicester. In March 1901 Eric was employed as a hosiery warehouseman and was residing in the family home at 11, Princess Street, Leicester, together with his father, an accountant, his mother and siblings, Muriel Edith, a drapers assistant, born 1881 in Quorn, Joseph, a hosiery warehouseman and Ida, a board school probationer. In April 1911 Eric was absent from the family home at Wanlip Road, Barkby, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, an accountant, his mother and siblings, Joseph, a hosiery warehouseman, Ida, a school teacher and Ailsa, a school teacher, Eric was employed as a farm worker and was residing at White Lodge, Cossington, Leicestershire, with his two maternal Aunt’s, Mary Agnes Florence Clarke, a farmer, born 1861 in Thurmaston and Mary Jane Clarke, a farmer, born 1871 in Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicestershire.
Eric attested into the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on the 6th January 1916 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He gave his present home address as Lipton, Saskatchewan, his date and place of birth as the 1st April 1887 in Leicestershire, England and his trade or calling as farmer. He gave his father, Joseph Wright of Syston, Leicestershire, England as his next of kin. He confirmed that he was unmarried.
His medical examination recorded his apparent age was 28 years and 6 months, and that he was 5 foot 7 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 36 inches. His complexion was described as ruddy, his hair colour was dark brown and he had brown eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on the 6th January 1916 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The War Diary records: 15 Sep-16 – IN THE FIELD. AM. In accordance with 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade instructions the Battalion Carried out two successful raids this am. First:- The joint A.27.d.7.3 where deep dugouts are suspected. Second:- To raid MOUQUET FARM and dugouts in vicinity. The raids consisted of two parties. The first party consisting of 1 officer, 50 other ranks and two flanking parties of 1 officer and 25 other ranks each. This party was commanded by Captain W. B. CASWELL of “C” Company. And their objective was the trenches at point R.D.27.d.7.3 which they were to bomb, and clean out, doing as much damage, and to cause as great loss to the enemy as possible. On reaching their objective, they were to remain in the trench for a period of 10 minutes, after stated time to return to their own trenches. At Zero time 6.20am No.1 party were in shell holes out in front of trenches, and in rear of where our barrage should have been, however at 6.25am it was found that our artillery, instead of playing on the enemy’s line, many of the shells fell amongst our own party inflicting many casualties including the officers leading the parties. When the barrage lifted it was found that the enemy’s line was intact and very strongly manned, and when our men advanced they were met with a shower of cylindrical sticks as well as heavy rifle and Machine Gun fire, in reply our men answered with Mills Bombs and rifle fire. This party occupied a line of shell holes in front of the enemy position from which a heavy fire was kept up by the enemy until our front line Company had suffered so many casualties that it was considered advisable to reinforce it by the remainder of the raiding party and this line was so held until relieved by the 2nd CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES Battalion on the night of September 15/16. The second party which was commanded by Lieutenant J. P. FRENCH consisted of 50 other ranks, which was divided into two parties, of 1 officer and 25 other ranks carried out the raid on MOUQUET FARM and suspected dugouts in that vicinity. The object being to surround the ruins and bomb out supposed entrances and if the enemy were ejected to occupy and hold this as a strong point. Two parties were told off from “A” and “B” Companies to act as consolidating parties in event of this happening. The work stakes cut for “B” Company was to extend the sap from point 59 and connect up with the ruins from MOUQUET FARM. The party from “A” Company to occupy shell holes from a point at 7.7 to the nearest point at MOUQUET FARM and to consolidate this by connecting shell holes as soon as possible. At Zero time this 2nd party left their trenches, attained this objective bombing out the only entrance that could be found. The party in question remained in this new position for about 15 minutes, returning then to their own trenches. During their stay in the new trench they accounted for at least 40 Germans, and captured one prisoner. During the operations of the 2nd party “A” Company had established themselves in the line above mentioned, connected up the shell holes and held the line until relieved by the 2nd CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES Battalion.
6.40am. The enemy began shelling our front line vigorously. The hits ever infrequent until about 10.30am when the range was perfect, with the result that many casualties were inflicted. This shelling was kept up without intermission until about 1.30pm, when it slackened for about an hour and was kept up intermittently until about 7.00pm, after this it was shifted back and barrage established between front line and supports which was kept up until about midnight. The Machine Gun and rifle fire, especially sniping, was incessant throughout the day. As a result of the bombardment, rifle and Machine Gun fire the two front line Companies suffered heavily, especially the right Company, in which out of 5 officers, three were killed and two wounded, one seriously and a large number of other ranks. The total casualties during the tour were as follows. 6 officers killed, 6 officers wounded and 2 officers missing. 64 other ranks killed, 175 other ranks wounded and 9 other ranks missing.
PM. Battalion relieved by the 2nd CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES Battalion night of 15/16th September and proceeded by march back to LA BOISSELLE.
On Friday December 1st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – SYSTON SOLDIER KILLED. Private Eric William Wright, aged 31, of the Canadian Mounted Rifles, was killed on September 15th. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Wright, Archdale House, Syston. Four years ago he was a farm pupil at Cossington, and went to Canada to take up farming there. He returned to England with one of the Canadian contingents.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Attested at Regina Saskatchewan 6th January 1916. Address & occupation at the time – Lipton, Saskatchewan – Farmer. Next of Kin - Father Joseph Wright of Syston Leicestershire. Date of birth 1st April 1887.

CWGC: Pte. 105769 E. W. Wright 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles (Saskatchewan Regt.). Died 15 Sept. 1916 commemorated Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Source P. Spooner 2015