Theodore Wright

He worked under fire at the bridge and sheltered wounded men

Theodore Wright was born at Hove on 15 May 1883 and educated at Clifton College and Woolwich. Commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1902, he served with the Balloon Section, in Gibraltar and Egypt, and became a captain before joining the British Expeditionary Force in August 1914.

At Mons on 23 August he repeatedly attempted to connect demolition leads at a bridge under heavy fire, despite a head wound. On 14 September at Vailly-sur-Aisne, he helped the 5th Cavalry Brigade cross a pontoon bridge and worked on repairs while exposed to enemy fire. He was mortally wounded while helping wounded men into shelter.

There was no subsequent career. He was buried in Vailly British Cemetery. His mother received his posthumous Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace in November 1916.

Official Victoria Cross citation

Gallantry at Mons on 23rd August in attempting to connect up the lead to demolish a bridge under heavy fire; although wounded in the head he made a second attempt. At Vailly, on 14th September, he assisted the passage of the 5th Cavalry Brigade over the pontoon bridge and was mortally wounded whilst assisting wounded men into shelter.

Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 13 November 1914. 16 November 1914, Numb. 28976, p. 9374. Repeated in The London Gazette of 17 November 1914, Numb. 28977, p. 9403