Leatherhead War Memorials: Ernest F Wright

Town Memorial P9.R3.C2

Pte
Ernest F. Wright
9th Norfolk Regt.

Oct 30 1918

Taken Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS

In the Autumn of 1918 and early 1919 an infuenza epidemic known as the Spanish Flu ravaged Western Europe and killed whole families.

The Parish Magazine of December 1918 states that Ernest Wright was buried on 2nd November 1918 [nine days later the war ended], a week before George Alexander. It records that they "had succumbed to the onset of infuenza and pneumonia, their resistance having been impaired by the severity of wounds sustained for which they had been discharged from the Army". ²

The Parish Magazine of May 1915 shows E[N] Wright serving with the 9th Bn. Norfolks.¹

Sources
1. Parish Magazine of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, May 1915, via Mr L Anstee
2. Parish Magazine of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, Dec 1918

Name: WRIGHT, EF Rank: Private Regiment: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 9th Bn. Date of Death: 30/10/1918 Service No: 14852 Grave/Memorial Reference: In East part. [local grave no. 1142] Cemetery: LEATHERHEAD (SS. MARY AND NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD

Links
Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry
The Essex Regiment 1914-18
Essex Regiment history
The Influenza Pandemic

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family

last updated 10 Aug 2004