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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 483

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

A 1934 Knight Bachelor, Great War O.B.E. group of six awarded Major Sir W. O. Wright, 2nd (Madras) Garrison Group Artillery, late Madras Artillery Volunteers (The Duke's Own), who served with this unit when they returned fire at the S.M.S. Emden during the Bombardment of Madras, going on to command the unit he was an important figure within Madras Society, later Honorary Consul for Belgium at Madras

Knight Bachelor’s Badge, 1st type breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, hallmarks for London 1933, in its damaged case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st Type breast Badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British War Medal 1914-20, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major W. O. Wright); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Indian Volunteer Forces Decoration, G.V.R. (Maj: W. O. Wright. 2nd (Madras) G. G. Arty:); Belgium, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Knight's breast Badge, gilt and enamel, last six mounted as worn by Spink & Son, enamel chipped on first, thus good fine, traces of lacquer to mounted group, very fine (7)

Knight Bachelor London Gazette 4 June 1934.

O.B.E. London Gazette 12 September 1919.

Order of the Crown London Gazette 28 September 1937.

William Owen Wright was born in 1882, the son of Major-General William Purvis Wright K.C.B. and Louisa Sparkes Owen. He worked for Parry & Co. Ltd in Madras prior to the Great War and served in the Madras Artillery Volunteers (The Duke's Own) being listed as a Lieutenant in the Madras Weekly Mail on 5 March 1908. Married on 22 June 1912 to Barbara Dorathea Mabel Mullaly at Madras by the Garrison Chaplain. When war broke out in 1914 the city of Madras found itself unexpectedly on the frontline when the German cruiser Emden steamed into port. She slipped quietly into the Bay on the night of 22 September and opened fire around 21:00. The Garrison was turned out and the Madras Artillery Volunteers led by Major H. H. G. Mitchell and Major J. Cunliffe manned the guns to repel the attack. By 22:00 the Emden had pulled away, having caused significant damage to the oil tanks by the port. The terror caused by this event seems to have hung over the port for some time with the Englishman's Overland Mail reporting on 1 October that a member of the Garrison Artillery Volunteers had been arrested for spreading rumours of the raider's return. Nevertheless the Garrison had performed well under fire and were generally praised for forcing the Emden's withdrawal. Major Cunliffe who had direct commanded the volunteers during the attack was allowed to take a temporary Commission as Captain in the Royal Artillery and was seconded to serve on the Western Front. Major Mitchell was promoted to Honorary Lieutenant Colonel and the Madras Volunteers were addressed by the Governor of Madras in December and thanked for 'the actual military service they have done during the past few months' (Englishman's Overland Mail 24 December 1914, refers). Later a detachment of volunteers was also sent to fight in the Persian Gulf in 1915. The unit was reorganised on 1 April 1917, renamed 2nd (Madras) Garrison Group Artillery, Wright was promoted to Major the same day and, with Mitchell's post an honorary one and Cunliffe seconded, given effect command. He was clearly effective in his role earning a 'mention' on 11 June 1920 to go with his O.B.E. After the end of the war Wright was to continue his work with Parry & Co. reaching the post of Director in 1928 and Chairman Madras Branch European Association in 1931. His work soon earned him a Knighthood in the 1934 Birthday Honours, around this time he also served as the Honorary Consul of Belgium in Madras for which he was granted the Order of the Crown with the London Gazette stating that it was:

'conferred upon him by His Majesty the King of the Belgians, in recognition of valuable services rendered by him while Honorary Consul of Belgium at Madras.'

He later served as a President of the Employers Federation of India in 1938. Wright returned to Britain, living at 18 Archery Square, Walmer, Kent, he died at Maldsmead, Marine Road, Walmer on 8 May 1951; sold together with a letter to his son from Cleaver, Holt & Morris dated 1955 giving provenance to the Knight Bachelor's Badge. For his miniature dress Medals please see Lot 606, for the medals of his father see Lot 471; and his son see Lot 426.

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Sold for
£3,200

Starting price
£600