Other work Farmer Battles/wars Second World War Battles and wars World War II | Role Armed force officer Years of service 1936–1945 Name Peter Wright | |
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Similar People Frederick William Dobson, Thomas Whitham, Thomas Norman Jackson, George Harry Wyatt, Thomas Grenville | ||
Peter Harold Wright VC (10 August 1916 – 5 April 1990) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
Wright was 27 years old, and a company sergeant major in the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 25 September 1943 near Salerno, Italy, a steep, wooded hill was being assaulted by the 3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards, and Company Sergeant Major Wright's company, most of its officers killed, was held up near the crest. Sergeant Major Wright took charge and single-handed he silenced with grenades and bayonet three Spandau posts and then led his men to consolidate the position. He then beat off a counter-attack, and disregarding the heavy fire, brought up extra ammunition.
Wright's Distinguished Conduct Medal was substituted for the VC on the instructions of King George VI.
Wright was born in Mettingham, near Bungay in Suffolk on 10 August 1916. In 1946, he married Mollie Hurren from Wenhaston in Suffolk and together they farmed Church Farm at nearby Blythburgh.
He died in Ipswich on 5 April 1990 and is buried in the village churchyard of All Saints at Ashbocking, also in Suffolk.