Stephen Reginald Wright

Lance Sergeant Stephen Reginald Wright, of the 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales’), Regimental Number 3138, was killed in action on 10th June 1916, aged 24, and is buried at Rue du Bacquerot (13th London) Graveyard, Laventie, France.

Life in Winchester

Stephen left home for Winchester Training College in 1910 for a two year course that started in September. We know from the College magazine, The Wintonian, that Stephen was a talented musician. The 1910-1914 collection of magazines writes about a Farewell Concert:

Mr S R Wright opened with a well-executed pianoforte solo, The Rustle of Spring’ ²Mr Wright now obliged again, this time with the song The Deathless Army’.

The Deathless Army was written in 1826 with words by Frederic E Weatherly ³. It was an apt choice for a College Concert because of their involvement in the Territorials.

Winchester Training College, photograph courtesy of Alwyn Ladell

The same article also reported that he acted as accompanist throughout the Concert.  A later section in the Wintonian, commended him on achieving the School Teacher’s Music Certificate.

Life as a student was very busy. They had a full timetable of subject lectures and attendance at Chapel was compulsory. Sport played a very important part in student life. There were regular fixtures against football and cricket teams from other local colleges. There was an annual Sports Day and regular meetings of the Harriers, A cross country running club where the route was laid down by a hare’. The students held regular Smoker’ Concerts where the entertainment was of a musical nature or poetry recitals. Indoor sports which included competitions in bridge, draughts and ping pong were enjoyed. There was a debating society when a variety of subjects were discussed.

The other significant aspect of student life at Winchester was the Territorial Force. By 1910 when Stephen began his course the original Volunteer Force at the College had become B Company of the 4th Territorial Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. This was more than just a change of title. The students no longer enrolled, they enlisted in the new Territorial Force. They were subject to military discipline and because of these changes, involvement altered from being automatic to being a matter of choice. Most of the students still chose to enlist.

At the end of his course, Stephen was graded with A for Music and Drawing, and C for Teaching and Science. He achieved a Class 2 pass in the Archbishops’ Religious Knowledge Examination. In his final Board of Education Exam, Stephen was awarded a distinction for Music.

When Stephen left the Training College he started his teaching career. There is some confusion as to where Stephen’s first teaching appointment took him. The Wintonian Magazine published details of where former students were working or living after they left.  Stephen was reported to be at School House, Spencer’s Wood, Reading. This was the family home. As his mother was the Headteacher at that school it is possible that she gave him his first job, but it could equally be that he was simply residing at home while waiting to begin his first teaching appointment.  The UK Soldiers Who Died in The Great War record gives his residence at the time of his death as Hoddeston.

St Catherine and St Paul Church, Hoddesdon

He was included on the Hoddesdon War Memorial but probably because of his parents’ connection there.  The Wintonian Magazine, in a later edition, also has him reported as being at Cranbourne, Windsor Forest.  A newspaper report published after his death comments on him having spent some time as assistant master at Cranborne, Ranelagh School, which is in Bracknell, Berkshire. By the time he enlisted Stephen was working in Cheltenham. A report in the Gloucestershire Echo from Tuesday 20th June 1916 tells us:

Wright’s Signature – The Students’ Register photograph by Dee Sayers