Blanche WRIGHT wife of Pay Commander Sydney John WRIGHT, Royal Navy

In loving memory of
Blanche
Beloved wife of
Pay Commander S.J. WRIGHT R.N.
And mother of Sheila
Passed away 21st Mar. 1942
Aged 54
“TO MEMORY EVER DEAR.”

Marriage:
Blanche E TURPIN married Sydney John WRIGHT June 1912 quarter
District Lambeth (England), vol. 1d page 674[4]

Married at Parish church; St Peter, Streatham, Lambeth on 4 May 1912
Sydney John WRIGHT aged 29, bachelor, assistant Paymaster RN; Residence at time of marriage: 18 Josephine Avenue, Brixton Hill.S.W.; Father: John WRIGHT deceased; Profession of father: Bandmaster
Blanche Elizabeth TURPIN: aged 24, spinster, no occupation recorded; Residence at time of marriage: 55 Leigham Vale, Streatham; Father: William TURPIN; Profession of father: Builder[5]

Husband: Sydney John WRIGHT
Born: 4 February 1885
Enrolment date: 15 July 1900
Rank: Paymaster Commander[6]

Naval War Medals – Mentioned in Despatches 1914-18
19 April 1921
Service location: Europe
Ships name: Excellent
26231 Pay. Lt Cdr, S.J. WRIGHT RN (Oak leaves “2”)[3]

It appears her husband and a daughter returned to England after her death
1944 incoming passenger list Liverpool, England November 1944 [1]
SS Rimutaka (the New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd)
Port of Departure: Sydney, Australia
Arrival date: 3 November 1944
Pay Commander S.J. WRIGHT aged 61; Naval officer; Proposed address in the United Kingdom, 8 Surrey Road, Margate, Kent; Permanent residence - New Zealand; Country of intended future permanent residence - England
Also on board
Miss S WRIGHT, 20 same addresses given, Home duties

Noted digitised “NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS OF DOMINION GOVERNMENTS” page 999
Naval repair base, Devonport (NZ)
Victualling Store Officer – Paymaster-Commander S.J WRIGHT, R.M. (ret).[2]

This is quite probably Sydney’s father – Bandmaster John WRIGHT
Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10992, 15 June 1901, Page 6
The news that the Ophir’s band will be allowed to give a performance in Christchurch on the Monday night of the Duke's visit is decidedly pleasant news to those who are fond, as most people are, of good band music. It is not, of course, the Ophir's band in the strict sense of the phrase, it is the band of the Royal Marines, and one of the finest organisations of its kind in the United Kingdom. In nearly every respect the composition of the band is the same as that of the band of the Highland Light Infantry which accompanied the Imperial Contingent on their colonial tour. Every member is a professional, and to gain admission to the band he has to pass a severe examination in two instruments—brass and strings, or reed and strings. It is not surprising to learn that the Band fulfils many important London engagements during the season, and that it was selected without hesitation by the Duke of Cornwall out of a large number which offered to come out for the tour.

The bandmaster, Mr John Wright, is a man with a reputation. He has been a bandmaster for twenty five years, and during that time has commanded two bands, the First South Lancashire, said to be the best band belonging to a regiment of the line in the service, and the Royal Marines, being appointed bandmaster of the latter ten years ago out of 250 applicants. He is an Irishman by birth, an Oxford man by education, and a first class musician by profession. He learned 8 harmony and counterpoint from Dr. Corfe, at the Cathedral, where he was a soloist at the age of eleven, and later on he became organist of St. Barnabas Church, Oxford. To his work he adds that of an examiner of the Royal College of Music, and besides being a skilled musician he is a composer of some merit. The daily performances by the band on the voyage out to Australia were by no means the least enjoyable feature of the journey. Without confining himself entirely to classical music, Mr Wright's repertoire includes a large number of selections of high standard, but he does not disdain the melodies of modern operas. The concerts given by the band in Sydney drew enormous crowds, and a large attendance will no doubt greet it in Christchurch on Monday week.[7]

And for article about his life and death see
eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfr...

SOURCES:
[1]
Ancestry.co.uk; incoming passenger lists, 1878-1960
[2]
National Library of Scotland: digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=9...
[3]
Ancestry.co.uk; UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972
[4]
www.freebmd.org.uk
[5]
Ancestry.co.uk; London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
[6]
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7576204
pay to download
[7]
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=CH...

Taken on: January 30, 2011

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Sets appears in: • Hillsborough Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand

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