Henry Walter 'Bill' Wright

Bill was attached to No.3 Commando as a Lance Sergeant from the Royal Artillery on the 7th July 1940. Promoted Sergeant on the 1st August 1940. No.3 Commando is then absorbed into 4th Special Service Bn. On the 1st Feb.1941 he is posted to No.8 Commando who had also been part of the short lived 4th SS Bn. This, although not marked on the transcript coincides with the date No.8 Commando became part of 'B' Battalion of Layforce which set sail for the Middle East, arriving at Suez in March 1941.The record also shows that he was posted to OCTU on 21/11/41. This was the date that Layforce, as such, ended with their leader Laycock being ordered back to the UK. No.8 Cdo would very soon be disbanded.After receiving his Commission he is soon attached back to No.3 Commando on the 4/5/42. On the 19th August 1942 he is taken POW. This was the date of the Dieppe raid. He remains a POW until repatriated and then posted back to No.3 Commando on the 24th August 1945. In December 1945 with the onset of the disbandment of the Army Commandos, he is transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers as a Lieutenant. He relinquishes his Commission with the Honorary rank of Major on the 16/4/48