WRIGHT William

Family

William's statement at enlistment recorded that he was born at Woombye, and that he was 27 years 7 months old. That would set his birth date as being in either February or March 1888. No registration of birth in Queensland accords precisely with those months. He also had a brother John Wright living at Buderim.

Military context

The 31st Battalion was raised as part of the 8th Brigade at Enoggera in August 1915 and, after uniting with companies raised in Victoria and training at Broadmeadows, steamed from Melbourne in November. The 8th Brigade joined the newly raised 5th Australian Division in Egypt and proceeded to France in June 1916. The 31st fought its first major battle at Fromelles, having entered the front-line trenches only three days earlier. Although it still spent periods in the front line, the 31st played no major offensive role for the rest of 1916.

When the German Army withdrew to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917 and the British front advanced in their wake, the 31st Battalion participated in follow-up operations but missed the heavy fighting to breach the Line at Bullecourt because the 8th Brigade was deployed to protect the Division's flank. The only large battle in 1917 involving the 31st in a major role was Polygon Wood, fought in the Ypres sector of Belgium on 26 September.

With the 5th Division kept largely in reserve, the 31st Battalion had a relatively quiet time until the battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918. Its last major action was in September when the 5th and 2nd Australian Divisions attacked the Hindenburg Line along the length of the 6 kilometre St Quentin Canal tunnel which was a major obstacle in the German defensive scheme.

It was resting and retraining out of the line when Armistice was declared. The 31st Battalion disbanded in France on 21 March 1919.

Enlistment

William Wright enlisted at Longreach on 16 October 1916. He had been born at Woombye but was living at Montville. At enlistment, he was a "labourer". He was 5 feet 9 1/4 inches in height, 149 pounds in weight, of fair complexion, with grey eyes and fair hair. His religion was Church of England and he listed his brother John Wright of Montville as his next of kin. He was 28 years 7 month old. His body bore no distinctive scars. He was fit for service subject to some dental repair work. His Service Number was 4910. On 5 February 1917 at Enoggera, he was allocated to the 13th Reinforcements of 31st Battalion.

Military Service

On 7 February 1917, Private Wright embarked on HMAT A18 "Wiltshire" at Sydney, bound for England. He disembarked at Devonport on 11 April. He marched in to the 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott that day.

On 31 May 1917, he had a minor scrape with military authority. He was charged with being absent without leave for about 19 hours, for which he was awarded ten days of camp confinement and a fine of one day's pay.

On 21 July 1917, he was marched in to 15th Battalion for the purposes of rations and accommodation during a period of isolation. He returned to the 8th Training Battalion on 2 August.

On 12 October, he proceeded to Southampton for transfer to France. After spending a short period in transition through the Australian Base Depot at Le Havre, he was taken on the strength of 31st Battalion on 18 October.

On 27 February 1918, he reported sick to hospital, suffering from scabies. He was not discharged to duty until 5 March.

He was again sick on 12 May when he reported to the 14th Field Ambulance with cellulitis in the upper arm. He rejoined his unit on the 20 May.

On 29 September, he was wounded in action and, with assistance of the 134th Field Ambulance, was taken to the 50th Casualty Clearing Station. On 3rd October 1918, he was invalided to the United Kingdom on the Hospital Transport "Ville de Liegeand" and admitted to the General Military Hospital at Colchester, suffering from a shell wound to his left arm. On 11 October, he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.

On 22 October, Private Wright was discharged to the No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth.

In keeping with the speed of news of the time, Casualty Lists 445-446 were published in the "Brisbane Courier" on 26 November 1918. Private William Wright, Montville was listed as wounded.

Private Wright embarked for Australia on 4 January 1919 per the "Morvada". The ship departed London on 17 January, arriving at Melbourne on 20 February. He was discharged from the A.I.F. at Brisbane on 1 April 1919.

After the War William Wright was issued the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

• Amiens
• Western Front

Maroochy Shire Honor Roll, Shire Chambers, Bury Street, Nambour

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war)

National Australia Archives
Australian War Memorial
Ancestry.com