Why We Must Never Forget

I would like to tell you something about my great, great Uncle, William Charles Wright. He, like many other young men, sacrificed his life in the first world war. My mother used to talk about him and the sacrifice he had made, and, as a child, I remember feeling very proud of him. My nan had his medals and two rather fine pictures of him. When I was young I think I just liked the look of him, so smart and straight in his uniform, and I felt sorry he had died.

Naturally, when I had children of my own, they were told about him too. I have inherited the medals and the pictures, and I still feel very proud of William Charles Wright. On Rememberance Sunday I go to our local war memorial and place a cross there for William, but I also think of all of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and continue to do so. This year was special because both of my sons were at home and they came with me.

William Charles Wright was the son of Walter and Amy Wright and came from Sherington in Buckinghamshire (which is where I was born). I don't know exactly when William joined the army but he reached the rank of Lance Corporal in 5th Brigade of Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.

William fought in the Third Battle of Ypres and was most likely involved in the main assault north-eastwards, which began in July 1917.

William died on Wednesday 22nd August 1917. He was 20 years old.

He is remembered at the memorial at Tyne Cot, Zonnebecke, West-Vlaaderen, Belgium. This memorial holds over 35,000 names of soldiers who lost their lives that have no known graves.

We will never forget you William Charles Wright

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