Robert James Wright was a son of Thomas and Sarah Wright. He was born in Magherafelt town on 30th August 1895. Robert was one of eight children. By 1901, the family were farming in Ballylifford, Salterstown, Moneymore. It is recorded that Rifleman Robert Wright died of wounds received on the first day of the battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916. It is not known if he was injured on that day.
Further Information
Robert James Wright was a son of Thomas and Sarah Wright. Thomas Wright married Sarah Sheppard on 11th July 1884 in the district of Cookstown.
Robert Wright was born in Magherafelt town (GRONI Ref U/1895/182/1022/20/230) on 30th August 1895. Robert was one of eight children.
Family: Thomas Wright, Sarah Wright, Anne Wright (born 12th May 1885), Samuel Wright (born 8th August 1886), John Wright (born 30th December 1887), Thomas Wright (born 24th February 1890), Richard Wright (born 11th August 1891), Robert James Wright (born 30th August 1895), Charles Arthur Wright (born 22nd December 1899), Dinah L Wright (born 27th December 1899).
The 1901 census lists Robert J as age 5, living with the family at house 7 in Ballylifford, Salterstown, Moneymore. His father was a farmer.
The 1911 census lists Robert James as age 15, living with the family at house 3 in Ballylifford, Salterstown, Moneymore. They were a farming family.
Robert was a member of Salterstown L.O.L. 482.
Robert enlisted in Randalstown, Co. Antrim, joining the 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, the Young Citizen Volunteers (Y.C.V.).
It is recorded that Rifleman Robert Wright died of wounds received on the first day of the battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916. It is not known if he was injured on that day.
Rifleman Robert Wright has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 15A-15B on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Rifleman Robert Wright is also commemorated on the family headstone at St John's Church of Ireland, Ballinderry. The headstone reads:
Erected by his wife in memory of Thomas Wright, unreadable. Also his son, Robert James Wright, 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, killed in action 1st July 1916, aged 20 years. Charles A Wright, who died 21st November 1935, aged 35 years. And Sarah Wright, wife of Thomas Wright, who died 30th January 1945, age 81 years. Also their son, Thomas Wright, died 10th June 1961, aged 70 years.
Rifleman Robert Wright is also commemorated on Ballinderry Church of Ireland Roll of Honour.
The CWGC record Rifleman Robert Wright as the son of Thomas and Sarah Wright of Ballylifford, Moneymore, County Derry.
