Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : WO3; later Colonel (RAEC)

Army Number : 4854356 (OR) and 363466 (officer)

Unit : 2nd Bn, Depot

Biography :

George Wright served in 2nd Bn The Leicestershire Regiment from about 1926. He was promoted Unpaid LCpl on 14.11.1927. He passed his 1st Class Certificate of Education on 21.3.1928. As a Cpl he was posted to the Depot for a tour of duty from 2.9.1930 where he was promoted LSgt on 2.9.1931. In 1932 he was awarded the Army 'Special' Educational Certificate. He was a Temporary CQMS in 2nd Bn in Palestine in 1939, and in 1940 in the rank of WO3 he was Platoon Sergeant Major of 17 Platoon of D Company. He later transferred to the Army Educational Corps. He was wounded on 28.4.1941 in Greece and became a POW. As a WO2 he was awarded the M.B.E. "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while Prisoner of War" (L.G. 1.11.1945), in Stalag 383 at Hohenfels in Bavaria.
There is a portrait of George Macdonald Wright painted whilst in the POW camp. It was painted by Sir Terry Frost (1915-2003), a renowned abstract artist who learnt to paint during his time as a POW. The portrait survived rolled up within a Certificate when the prisoners were released. As an early work and a portrait it is thought to be a possible rarity. The portrait appeared on the BBC Antiques Road Show and features in a subsequent book, "Antiques Road Show – 40 years of Great Finds" (ref: pages 34-35). The original portrait, the Certificate and medals were given to the National Army Museum in the early 21st Century. The Certificate was an Address to thank George MacDonald signed by the 96 instructors/tutors of Stalag 383 School, Germany. It records his role as ‘Headmaster since its inauguration in September 1942’ ‘for the greater benefit to Prisoners of War’. Presented on ‘Thursday 1st June 1944’.
After the Second World War, George Wright had two years leave of absence from the Army, and attended Oxford University where he gained an MA degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE). He was granted an Immediate Emergency Commission as a 2Lt in the Army Educational Corps on 6.4.1946. On return to active duty he was posted to Germany (1947-51), and promoted Lt on 2.4.1949 (with seniority 1.8.1938), and Captain on 2.4.1949 (with seniority 3.10.1941). This was followed by postings in Colchester, York, Nottingham and Hong Kong, during which he was promoted Major on 2.4.1949 (with seniority 1.7.1946), Lt Col on 1.4.1954, and Colonel on 27.10.1959. He retired on retired pay on 4.10.1963. On 3.10.1967, having attained the age limit for liability to recall, he ceased to belong to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers.
As a civilian he had a poultry farm and did voluntary work for the Red Cross in appreciation of their organisation’s support of the Prisoners of War, carrying out such services as acting as a volunteer driver.
He died in 1978, aged 69 years. He was the son of 2Lt George William Wright of the Regiment, KIA in WW1.

Date of Birth : 3.10.1908

Place of Birth : Scarborough, N Yorks

Date of Death : 12.1.1978

Place of Death : Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

Civil Occupation : Poultry farmer

Period of Service : 1926-63

Conflicts : WW2

Places Served : Germany, England, Northern Ireland, Palestine (in Liecs Regt); Greece, Germany, Hong Kong (AEC)