Can you help trace Private Wright?

10:12am Thursday 15th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

DO you know Private Fred Wright?

Students from Plume School, in Fambridge Road, Maldon, have appealed for help in tracing the man who appears in this framed portrait.

The picture was discovered in a dusty corner of one of the school's storage rooms - and now pupils have been given the task of researching its history.

The Year 9 pupils - Suzanne Little, Sara Burton, Fleur Young, Alex Broadhurst, Zoe Taylor and Chloe Daniels - have taken on the project as part of the Plume School's celebrations of 400 years of secondary education in the town.

The girls said the picture shows a World War One soldier who was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme.

They said: "The only information we have is his name, Private Fred Wright, the date he was enlisted, April 8, 1915, and the date he died, October 20, 1916."

They added they were "intrigued to find out why the picture was in the school archives" and are now attempting to discover just who the mysterious Fred Wright is.

Through searching census records, they have already discovered he may be a Tiptree man, but have been unable to uncover and other information.

Anyone who has information about the mysterious Private Fred Wright can contact the Standard newsroom on 01245 493444 or e-mail mbsdistrict@nqe.com