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Wallace Duffield Wright

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Wallace Duffield Wright
The grave of Wallace Duffield Wright in Brookwood Cemetery
Born(1875-09-20)20 September 1875
Gibraltar
Died25 March 1953(1953-03-25) (aged 77)
Chobham, Surrey
Buried
Brookwood Cemetery
51°17′59″N 0°37′44″W / 51.299790°N 0.629019°W / 51.299790; -0.629019
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1896–1940
RankBrigadier-General
UnitQueen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
Northern Nigeria Regiment (attached)
Home Guard
Commands held8th Infantry Brigade
Battles/warsMalakand Frontier War
Tirah Campaign
Kano-Sokoto Expedition
First World War
Second World War
AwardsVictoria Cross
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches
Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)
Other workMember of Parliament (Conservative Party)

Brigadier-General Wallace Duffield Wright, VC, CB, CMG, DSO (20 September 1875 – 25 March 1953) was a British soldier and politician. He was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Victoria Cross action

Wright was 27 years old, and a lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) attached to the Northern Nigeria Regiment, during the Kano-Sokoto Expedition.

On 26 February 1903 in Nigeria, "Lieutenant Wright, with only one [other] Officer and 44 men took up a position in the path of the advancing enemy sustained the determined charges of 1,000 Horse and 2,000 Foot for two hours and when the enemy, after heavy losses, fell back in good order, Lieutenant Wright continued to follow them up until they were in full retreat.

The personal example of this Officer, as well as his skillful leadership, contributed largely to the brilliant success of the affair.

He in no way infringed his orders by his daring initiative, as, though warned of the possibility of meeting large bodies of the enemy, he had purposely been left a free hand."[1]

As Member of Parliament

In 1928, Wright was elected at a by-election as Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Tavistock following the death of the sitting MP Philip Kenyon-Slaney. He was re-elected at the 1929 general election, but stood down at the 1931 general election.

His VC was destroyed in the fire at The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum, Clandon Park, Surrey on the afternoon of 29 April 2015.[2][3]

Honours and awards

Victoria Cross (VC)[4] 5 November 1903 by HM King Edward VII
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)[4]
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)[4] 1916
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)[4] 1918
East and West Africa Medal[4]
India Medal[4]
1914–15 Star[4]
British War Medal[4]
Victory Medal with bronze palm for Mentioned in Despatches[4]
Defence Medal[4]
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal[4] 1935
King George VI Coronation Medal[4] 1937
Officer of the Legion of Honour[4] (France)

References

  1. ^ "No. 27596". The London Gazette. 11 September 1903. p. 5663.
  2. ^ Linning, Stephanie. "Irreplaceable Victoria Crosses and priceless art and furniture are feared destroyed after massive blaze rips through 18th-century National Trust stately home". MailOnline. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  3. ^ Harper, Paul. "Clandon Park fire: Battle of the Somme football among historic items feared lost at Surrey Infantry Museum". Get Surrey. The Surrey Advertiser. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Queen's Royal Surreys". Retrieved 15 September 2012.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Tavistock
1928–1931 		Succeeded by
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