Wallace Duffield Wright

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.

Wallace Duffield Wright
The grave of Wallace Duffield Wright in Brookwood Cemetery
Born	20 September 1875 Gibraltar
Died	25 March 1953 (aged 77) Chobham, Surrey
Buried	Brookwood Cemetery (51.299790°N 0.629019°W)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1896–1940
Rank	Brigadier-General
Unit	Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Northern Nigeria Regiment (attached) Home Guard
Commands held	8th Infantry Brigade
Battles/wars	Malakand Frontier War Tirah Campaign Kano-Sokoto Expedition First World War Second World War
Awards	Victoria 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 work	Member of Parliament (Conservative Party)

Early life

Wright, the son of James Sykes Wright was born in Gibraltar on 20 September 1875.[1] He was educated at Cranbrook School, Kent. He joined the Militia in 1893,[2] and was commissioned into the 1st Battalion of the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) in December 1896.[1]

Wright and served with the Malakand Field Force and the Tirah Expeditionary Force on the North West Frontier (1897–1898),[1] during which he was severely wounded.[2] He was awarded the Indian Frontier Medal with clasps for the Punjab Frontier and Tirah and was promoted to Lieutenant in September 1898.[1]

Victoria Cross action

In 1901 Wright was sent to North Nigeria,[2] where he was attached to the Northern Nigeria Regiment, during the West African 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."[3]

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.[4]

Honours and awards

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

References

1. "Wallace D Wright VC". victoriacross. 11 September 1903. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
2. Wills, Walter H.; Barrett, R. J. (1907). The Anglo-African Who's who and Biographical Sketch-book. George Routledge & Sons. p. 330.
3. "No. 27596". The London Gazette. 11 September 1903. p. 5663.
4. 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.
5. "Queen's Royal Surreys". Retrieved 15 September 2012.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Wallace Duffield Wright
• Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment: Wallace Duffield Wright
• Location of grave and VC medal (Brookwood Cemetery)
• The Brookwood Cemetery Society (Known Holders of the Victoria Cross Commemorated in Brookwood Cemetery)