L/Cpl 21646 Cecil John Wright (MM)

• Age: 22
• From: Crewe, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 8th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Busigny Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: V.A.19

The 1901 Census shows the family at 52 Gladstone Avenue, Chester. His widowed mother, Isabella, is aged 35, born in Chester and has no occupation, with children Phyllis aged 6, and Cecil aged 4. Also shown on the records are two boarders and her sister May Coppack aged 26. 

His widowed mother Isabella re-married to bachelor, John Peers, on the 24th February 1906 at St Oswald’s Church, Chester, they were both, aged 40. 

On the 1911 Census they are still at the same address. His step-father, John Peers, is aged 46, and is a canal clerk, born in Winsford, Cheshire, his mother, Isabella, is aged 43, with children Phyllis Mabel 16, a confectioner, and Cecil John aged 14, a law clerk apprentice. Also present is Isabella’s brother Ernest Nunn Coppack 32, an engine driver.  

Prior to the war Cecil worked in the offices of Messrs. Potts, Potts and Gardner Solicitors, Chester.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on the 03rd September 1914 joining the 19th Battalion. He was 18yrs 180 days old and gave his occupation as a clerk.  He was described as being 5’6” inches tall, weighed 126lbs with a 34” chest, sallow complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and his next of kin was his step-father, John Peers, of 52 Gladstone Avenue.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on the 07^th November 1915.

He was involved in the heavy fighting on the Somme in 1916 as is shown by his letter home which featured in the Chester Chronicle on 29^th July 1916: 

 “Cestrians in the Big Push:  Chester young men, many of whom joined the “Liverpool Pals”, played a conspicuous part in the commencement of the “Great Push” but their doings have, with one or two exceptions, not seen the light of print.  This particular Liverpool regiment rendered excellent service, for which they have been deservedly praised, and it is therefore interesting to learn that amongst the “Pals” who have earned distinction are several members of the Sealand United Football Club junior organisation which in 1914 had proved equal to the task of acting as reserve team to the Chester F.C.  A few months after the war broke out, with that good sporting spirit which was characteristic of them, the whole team joined the colours and to their credit, be it said, they have proved in this serious battle of life just as trustworthy and keen as they were found to be on the field of play.  One of their number – Cecil J. Wright, writing to his home, 52 Gladstone Avenue, Chester, says, ‘No doubt you will have heard by this that we have been giving the Huns a very nasty smack.  We captured four lines of their trenches, which means an advance of about a mile and a quarter and could have gone on further had we have wished, but as this was our objective we had to remain.  It was very amusing to see the Germans come out of their trenches with their hands stretched above their heads shouting “Kamerade”.  They were a very poor-looking lot – Bavarians, half-starved and proper pale looking.  Our casualties were very slight considering the ground we gained and as regards the enemy’s losses they were terrific.  They appeared to have no reserves, and nobody entrenched in front of us.  We are now having a rest well behind the lines, having done our share of the dirty work.  Charles Heath and G. Pinches are all right.  The Germans are absolutely beaten on this part of the front.  The way they gave themselves up was a disgrace to the German army.  I have got many souvenirs such as German helmets, or, as a matter of fact, anything, but as we are not allowed to bring these articles home I let them slide.’ 

Writing on subsequent dates, Private Wright says, ‘the battalion is still resting behind the lines after their grand work and were enjoying the peaceful surroundings.  Heath and Pinches are all right.’

Sadly both Heath and Pinches were killed in action on 30th July 1916 at Guillemont.

Cecil was appointed paid Lance Corporal on the 05th June 1918 and continued to serve with the 19th Battalion until it was disbanded and subsumed into the 14th Battalion on 31/07/1918. The 14th battalion was then amalgamated with the 18th Battalion. The new battalion officially becomes the 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry), of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

Cecil was serving with the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 21646 when he was killed in action on the 08th October 1918, aged 22, during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

From the battalion War Diary -

07th October 1918

The battalion was billeted at TEMPLEUX-LA-FOSSE and moved forward to the HINDENBURG Line in the neighbourhood of BONY, taking up previously selected position by 1545 hours.  […]  Final orders for the attack on the 8th were issued, rations were issued and everything prepared, overcoats being dumped and the necessary tools being issued.  

8th October 1918

The battalion arrived in the Assembly position in B.8.d. at 0600 hours. […]. Intermittent shelling in BELLE VUE FARM and BEAUREVOIR MILL.  Manchesters and Connaughts not in position.  At 0652 the Manchesters and Connaughts moved forward, this battalion, being in Divisional Reserve, following.  A good number of prisoners commenced to come in, the situation being good, and the Manchesters and Connaughts got into position without much difficulty.

At 1030 word was received from the Manchesters that LES FOLIES FARM was captured at 0830, and that they were advancing on to final objective, with very little opposition.

At 1235 hours our “D” Company was ordered to report to the Connaught Rangers, as reserve in case of necessity.  At 1242 “A”, “B”, and “C” Coys were ordered forward to  take up positions between PETIT FOLIES and LES FOLIES FARM in time to arrive at 1400 […], the battalion going to take over the line from the Connaughts.  At 1730 “D” Company moved forward to occupy the mill at SERAIN and help in clearing up the Village, the eastern edge of which was occupied by the Bosche, “B” Company moving up to take over part of the line from the Connaughts. 

The War Diary makes no mention of casualties for this day. 

He was the recipient of the Military Medal for his bravery. The award being Gazetted 29th August 1918. He also received the trio of medals.  

Busigny was captured by the 30th American Division and British cavalry on 9 October 1918, in the Battle of Cambrai, and in the course of the next two months the 48th, 37th and 12th Casualty Clearing Stations came successively to the village. The majority of the burials were made from these three hospitals. The cemetery extension was begun in October 1918, and used until February 1919. After the Armistice it was enlarged when graves were brought into Plots II-VII of graves from a wide area between Cambrai and Guise.  Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension contains 670 First World War burials, 64 of them unidentified. The extension was designed by Charles Holden.

Cecil is also commemorated on the War Memorial located in Chester Town Hall.

We currently have no further information on Cecil John Wright, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.