Theodore Wright
| Theodore Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 May 1883 Brighton, East Sussex |
| Died | 14 September 1914 (aged 31) Vailly, France |
| Buried | Vailly British Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1902 - 1914 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 57 Field Company, Royal Engineers |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Theodore Wright VC (15 May 1883 – 14 September 1914) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was born at Brighton, and received his education from Clifton College and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich.
He was thirty one years old, and a captain in the 57th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 23 August 1914 at Jemappes, Mons, Belgium, a company of the Royal Scots Fusiliers were holding a barricade at the north end of a bridge over the Mons-Condé canal. By this time the firing on the position had become so violent and the casualties were so numerous that a retirement had been decided on. Lance-Corporal Charles Jarvis, of the Royal Engineers was then called upon to destroy the bridge but was without the exploder and leads. It was then that he met Captain Theodore Wright, who had been wounded in the head, who told him to go back to the bridge and he would bring the necessary equipment.
It was whilst attempting to connect the leads under the bridge to blow it that Theodore Wright earned his Victoria Cross. Time and again he tried to get at the end of the leads but each time he raised his head above the level of the towpath he was fired upon from about thirty yards off. Eventually he gave up the attempt and in swinging himself back under the girder of the bridge he lost his grip and owing to exhaustion fell into the canal, and was pulled out by a Sergeant Smith. ( Corporal Alfred Jarvis was also awarded the Victoria Cross for this same action ).
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