Thank you for invaluable past help! I wonder if you can help me find the location of the death in action on 28 April 1915 of Arthur William Wright. (My Great-Uncle - unmarried - no known direct descendants.)
His details: Arthur William Wright, born 1891 in Chicheley, Bucks, parents Leonard Wright, farmworker & Emma Wright. Enlisted, according to local press, 7 Sept 1914 in Northampton. Death date confirmed by Army pension records, given by family in local press, ‘killed in action somewhere in France April 28, 1915, aged 23’.
Details from Army death record via Ancestry: Arthur William Wright East Surrey Regt 2nd Battalion Service No 7309 'Killed in action.' Place: France and Flanders'. Leonard Wright his father later received Arthur’s gratuity (record via Ancestry).
I attach part of an article, Bucks Standard, 22 May 1915. This claims that the family were not notified of Arthur's death by the War Office. A fellow soldier sent Arthur's watch to his sister. Mrs Easson, the wife of the family's vicar, visited the War Office in London. They gave confirmation of Arthur's death, but no further details. (I'd be interested to know if such confusion happened frequently in WW!?)
Are any official records available which would give more details of Arthur Wright's death, please? Is there a history of the East Surrey regiment, or a detailed WW1 history which would reveal where the 2nd Battalion were on 28 April 1915, and what they were doing (e.g. fighting in a named battle)?
N.B.Confusingly, Arthur had a cousin, Arthur REGINALD Wright, of Little End, Chicheley, who (according to local press, joined the army on 3 Dec 1915. 'Reg' Wright survived the war, living till the 1960s.
I look forward to any further details of Arthur William Wright's death which expert knowledge may reveal! Thank you very much for your time.
