Wright, M (Matthew)
Private Matthew Wright was the son of Matthew and Mary A. Wright, of Coleraine. He served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 70th Battalion. Matthews died in hospital from wounds received in an air raid the night before. His father, who is also called Matthew,[1] had served in the 36th Ulster Division in the Great War.
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 70th Battalion was created for young soldiers who had volunteered for service but had yet to reach the age of conscription (20). It was disbanded in 1943 when the age limit was lowered (18). Conscription was never introduced in Northern Ireland.
Over Belfast and other places in Northern Ireland there was an air raid on the 16th of April 1941 starting at 22:45. It lasted until 4:30 on the 17th.
During the raid, an aerodrome in Newtownards[2] was attacked with incendiary bombs and high explosives. One of the H.E. bombs hit the Headquarters of “A” company, 70th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
As a direct result of the explosions and subsequent fires, 10 were killed and 15 injured in this one incident. One of the injured was Fusilier Matthew Wright, although he died soon afterwards. Two others would die of wounds before the 21st of the same month.
Date of Death: 17/04/1941 (Aged 18)
Service: Fusilier, 70th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Service Number: 6984533
Burial Location: Grave 462.
[1] Private Matthew Wright, Service Number 19554, 10th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was in France from the 5th of October 1915. He survived gunshot wounds to the arm, leg, and abdomen. He also survived the war being discharged during the 13th pf Feb 1919.
[2] Newtownards is a town, 10 miles east of Belfast.