World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award posthumously in November 1914 for his actions as a captain in the 57th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, of the British Army on August 23, 1914 at Jemappes, Mons, Belgium and Vailly, Aube, France on September 14, 1914 during the early stage of World War I. Born in Brighton, East Sussex, England, he attended Clifton College at Bristol, England followed by the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, London, England where he excelled at cricket. In October 1902 he received a commission as a 2nd lieutenant and joined Corps of Royal Engineers, serving in Gibraltar and Cairo, Egypt. When World War I broke out in July 1914, he had attained the rank of captain and was sent to the Western Front in France. He saw action at the Battle of Mons (August 23, 1914), where Allied Forces were forced to retreat, followed by the First Battle of the Anise (September 13-28, 1914), near Vailly, Aube, France where he was killed in action at the age of 31. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "Mons, France, 23 August 1914, Captain Theodore Wright, 57th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers. For gallantry at Mons on 23rd August 1914 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 1914, he assisted the passage of 5th Cavalry Brigade over the pontoon bridge and was mortally wounded whilst assisting wounded men into shelter." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the 1914 Star (with 5th Aug-22 Nov 1914 clasp), the British War Medal (1914-20), and the Victory Medal (1914-19). His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at The Royal Engineers Museum at Gillingham, Kent, England.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award posthumously in November 1914 for his actions as a captain in the 57th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, of the British Army on August 23, 1914 at Jemappes, Mons, Belgium and Vailly, Aube, France on September 14, 1914 during the early stage of World War I. Born in Brighton, East Sussex, England, he attended Clifton College at Bristol, England followed by the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, London, England where he excelled at cricket. In October 1902 he received a commission as a 2nd lieutenant and joined Corps of Royal Engineers, serving in Gibraltar and Cairo, Egypt. When World War I broke out in July 1914, he had attained the rank of captain and was sent to the Western Front in France. He saw action at the Battle of Mons (August 23, 1914), where Allied Forces were forced to retreat, followed by the First Battle of the Anise (September 13-28, 1914), near Vailly, Aube, France where he was killed in action at the age of 31. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "Mons, France, 23 August 1914, Captain Theodore Wright, 57th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers. For gallantry at Mons on 23rd August 1914 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 1914, he assisted the passage of 5th Cavalry Brigade over the pontoon bridge and was mortally wounded whilst assisting wounded men into shelter." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the 1914 Star (with 5th Aug-22 Nov 1914 clasp), the British War Medal (1914-20), and the Victory Medal (1914-19). His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at The Royal Engineers Museum at Gillingham, Kent, England.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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