| G. Wright, is pictured here prior to his promotion to sergeant possibly while still a member of the Cape Mounted Rifles although it is possible that he was already serving with the South African Constabulary during the Anglo-Boer War when the he sat for this photograph sometime after 1900. In this photograph Wright is wearing the ribbons for the British South Africa Company Medal and the Queen's South Africa Medal which seems to confirm some aspects of his military service as outlined by friend in later life, Mr F. R. Bell as outlined below. It should be stated that as of this writing no positive identification of G. Wright has been made in the rolls of either the British South Africa Company Medal or the Queen's South Africa Medal. Wright had very extensive military career as outlined on the reverse of these two photographs by a F. R. Bell who was personally acquainted with Wright. His campaign highlights included: Mashonaland with the Cape Mounted Rifles* South Africa (Boer War) with the South African Constabulary World War I (1914-18) with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force *In his inscription Mr. F.R. Bell identifies this unit as the Mounted Cape Rifles. It seems that Wright received a Mention in Lord Kitchener's Despatch of 8 December, 1901 for "...good work in the capture of Commandant Malan at Olifantsfontein on 30 May". Ongoing research has failed - as of this writing - to turn up any definitive evidence of Wright serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as mentioned by F. R. Bell. Was Wright from New Zealand originally or did he relocate there sometime prior to World War One? According the F. R. Bell, Wright later lived in North Walsham, Norfolk and died sometime in the 1960's. Bell also mentioned having been given Wright's medal group by his widow. Unfortunately that medal group became separated from the photographs during the intervening years. Cabinet Photograph S. King - Photographer Bloemfontein, South Africa c. 1901 |
| Sergeant G. Wright, (seated center ) South African Constabulary is pictured here with two other unidentified sergeants of the Constabulary. Wright's four chevron stripes surmounted by a crown would seem to indicate that he held the rank of Troop Sergeant-Major if the Constabulary followed the ranking system used by the regular British cavalry at the time. Wright wears the ribbons for the British South Africa Company Medal and the Queen's South Africa Medal in this photograph while the sergeant standing on the right wears the ribbons for the Queen's and King's South Africa Medals. This would seem to imply that Wright was not entitled to the later medal. Mounted Photograph (on album page) Unknown Photographer Unknown South African Location c. 1905 |
| F. R. Bell's note pasted to the reverse of the above photograph outlining Wright's military career. |