The sadness of war for family with links to television stars

William Henry Wright was the brother-in-law of television presenter Johnny Ball's father, Dan and it is the Wright family we have been looking at here at Looking Back.

Thanks to William's granddaughter Jean Rosslowe we have a fascinating snapshot of life during World War One as seen by her grandfather who served in the Bolton Artillery in Egypt where he was sent to guard the Suez Canal.

He was sent home with severe dysentery in 1916 and sadly died in 1919 having never recovered from his illness. Although William did not die during the war years he was still a casualty of the Great War which claimed so many thousands of young lives.

In June 1915 William writes to his father and mother from Alexandria where he is expecting to go on to the Dardanelles "any day".

He says: "From what we have seen and heard we are getting more than we have asked out there.

"There are hundreds of wounded coming here every day. For instance I don't suppose it has been reported that the Queen Elizabeth has been damaged in action but she came to Lemnos (Greece) while we were there to be repaired."

It is clear from William's letter that he is getting seriously disillusioned with the war and the way he is treated. He says: "We are all fed up, disgusted and sick of the "brilliant" array of officers we have here" and he begs his parents to "excuse this tirade but it is nothing towards what some of the men feel".

But by August 5 of 1915 his letters become more worrying than ever for his parents back home in Bolton.

From the 15th General Hospital Alexandria he tells them: "I know you will be wondering what has become of me as I have not written. As you will see I am in hospital. I came in last Sunday with dysentery.

"I ought to have been in weeks ago as I have had it several weeks but I was mistaken. Instead of going away it left me weaker every day."

He talks of "our Jack" having all his teeth taken out at the hospital and says that if he had his time again he would have joined the rifles.

"Just fancy me making a meal of a bowl of milk, it is as much as I can manage too. What wouldn't I give to be able to eat a good hearty English meal," he says.

On Saturday August 14 William is on his way home, via Malta and Gibraltar, on board the hospital ship Asturias.

He records his journey on a daily basis and on Saturday August 21 is delighted to receive a pipe of tobacco from the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company.

Sunday August 22nd's entry tells of the ship arriving in Gibraltar at 4am.

"They are taking some of the troops off here as they put too many on at Malta and some had to sleep on deck.

"They won't allow them to take any more than what they have accommodation for through the Bay of Biscay. We are now alongside the wharf on which are several new big naval guns. Left Gibraltar about 10am after leaving 436 troops there."

On Monday August 23, when William describes a "marked change in the climate. It was quite cold to us first thing this morning" he records hearing that Italy and Bulgaria have declared war on Turkey and that three German destroyers have been sunk.

When he finally reached British shores William was transported to the Liverpool Hospital of Tropical Medicine on the Wirral and although he was allowed to resume work at either Swan Lane Mill or Tootal, Broadhurst, Lee in Daubhill he never fully regained his health and died on March 6, 1919 aged just 28.

His daughter Beatrice, who was Jean's mother, was born on September 12, 1919.

He is buried in Deane St Mary's Church Yard in Junction Road, Deane in a war grave. William was awarded the British War Medal the Victory Medal and the 1914 Star.

William's brother, Edmund Wright, was just 19 when he was killed on May 30, 1918 near Soisson in Northern France.

He joined the Loyal North Lancashire (9th Battalion) when he was 18 and served on the Somme.

Edmund's mother Alice Wright would visit Soisoon every year to visit the area where her son lost his life but he does not have a grave. His name is on the memorial at Soisson.

The family has a very interesting link to famous television stars Johnny and Zoe Ball.

Dan Ball was the brother of William's wife, Effie and Dan was Johnny's father.

He was an apprentice at Tootal, Broadhurst, Lees mechanics' shop who sadly lost his job in the depression of the 1930s.

He married a Westhoughton girl called Martha when Jean's mother, Beatrice Thistlethwaite was aged 14.

Beatrice recalled wearing her first pair of silk stockings for the wedding.

Jean is delighted to have the letters and information about her ancestors to help her trace her family history.

Do you have an interesting family history you would like to share with Looking Back readers. If so do get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269 or email gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk