Edward James Wright Flight Sergeant R/287664 428 Squadron; RCAF November 7, 1928 (1925 on enlistment papers) Montreal, Quebec November 20, 1943 Winnipeg, Manitoba (#6 Recruiting Centre) 191 Yale Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba 18 (actual16) 5 feet, 6 inches Fair Brown Blond Single Cook Church of England Alfreda May Wright (Mother) Winnipeg, Manitoba April 30, 1945 16 Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire, United Kingdom Sec A, Grave 1023 Commemorated on Page 577 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on December 2 Edward James Wright was the son of James Albert Wright (1888-1957) and Alfreda May (Harvey) Wright (1907- 1974). He was the brother of Richard Harvey Wright (1934-1973), Patricia Wright (b. 1934) and Ada Mary Wright (1927-2017). His father was born in London England, his mother in Liverpool, England. His father came to Canada in 1921 and married Alfreda May Harvey on September 14, 1926. James Albert Wright was a Sergeat with the RCMP serving in Montreal in 1926. In 1937 his father had posting to Halifax, Nova Scotia and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In May of 1943 he was posted to Winnipeg and retired in 1946. Edward (Ted) James Wright attended Charles Tupper School, Halifax between 1932 and 1938 and completed grades seven and eight at West Kent School in Prince Edward Island between 1939 and 1940. He was employed at various odd jobs between 1941 and 1943, and employed in the canteen at the Knights of Columbus, Halifax, Nova Scotia between February 1943 and June 1943. In August of 1943 through October of 1943 he was employed as a cook with Canadian National Railways in Nova Scotia. He enlisted in Winnipeg on November 20, 1943 having completed a medical on November 11, 1943. His enlistment information indicates he had the approval of his parents to enlist and he considered himself wholly self-supporting. His hobby was stamp collecting and he played some occasional football. He indicated during his interview he had considered joining the Armed Forces since finishing school, preferred the Air Force as he would like to fly. He desired overseas service, his first choice as an air gunner but would accept any part of aircrew. He was considered physically fit and suitable for aircrew. He trained in Canada, obtained his Air Gunner Badge on June 2, 1944. He embarked Halifax on July 20, 1944. disembarking in the United Kingdom on July 27, 1944. In England he continued training with 260 Operational Training Unit and on April 22, 1945 joined 428 Squadron. At 10:59 am on April 30, 1945 Lancaster X KB 879 departed RAF Middleton St George on a cross-country training flight. The aircraft was seen to spin down and crashed at 11:55 am in the vicinity of Hixon, North Sandon, Staffordshire. All members of the crew were killed instantly. The burial of the six RCAF crew members took place at the Regional Cemetery, Chester on May 4, 1945 and the RAF crew members was given a private funeral on May 4 at Selkirk, Scotland. The crew members were Flight Lieutenant Willam Gavin Campbell (pilot) of Manitoba, Sergeant John Henry Kay (Navigator) of Alberta, Sergeant Stuart E. Berryman (Air Bomber) of Manitoba, Flight Sergeant Walter Graham Ward (Flight Engineer) of Selkirk, Scotland, Warrant Officer Thomas Daniel Lawley (Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner) of Hamilton, Ontario; Sergeant John Lester Tweedy (Mid-Gunner) Alberta, and Flight Sergeant Edward James Wright (Rear Gunner) Winnipeg, Manitoba. Full service honours were accorded, the coffins being carried by Air Force personnel. A firing party was present and the coffins covered with the Union Jack, The Last Post was sounded at the end. Wreaths were sent from the Officer’ and Sergeants’ Messes.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address at Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Marital Status: Trade: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Sources: Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave (photo of headstone)