Above: G. Wright, is pictured here before his promotion to sergeant possibly while still a member of the Cape Mounted Rifles. It is possible that he was already serving with the South African Constabulary during the Anglo-Boer War when he sat for this photograph sometime after 1900. In this photograph, Wright appears to be wearing the ribbons for two campaign medals, most likely the British South Africa Company Medal (BSACM) and the Queen's South Africa Medal (QSAM). It should be stated that as of this writing no identification of G. Wright has been made in the rolls of either the BSACM or the QSAM.
Wright had a very extensive military career which was described on the reverse of these two photographs by an F. R. Bell who was personally acquainted with Wright whose campaign highlights include:
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 before World War One?
According to F. R. Bell, Wright later lived in North Walsham, Norfolk, and died there sometime in the 1960s. 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
Above: Sergeant G. Wright, (seated center) of the South African Constabulary is pictured here with two other unidentified constables. Based on his rank chevrons, Wright appears to have 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
Below: A handwritten note attached to the reverse side of the above photograph by Mr. F. R Bell outlining Sergeant Wright's military record.
