HERO OF THE MONTH
Company Sergeant Major Peter Harold Wright VC
Farmer’s son Peter Wright, one of no less than 14 children, was an exceptional character whose Victoria Cross has a place in the history books for two specific reasons: it was the first and only Salerno VC and, furthermore, it was uniquely upgraded from a DCM at the insistence of King George VI.
Peter Harold Wright was born in Mettingham, near Bungay, Suffolk, on 10 August 1916. His father was Gordon Wright and his mother was Helen (née Easter). Peter, who had eight brothers and five sisters, was educated at Brooke Village School, Norfolk, and Woodton School, also in Norfolk.
Initially, after leaving school, he worked on his father’s farm, but he was planning a career in the police force. However, he had a change of heart and enlisted into the Coldstream Guards on 7 October 1936 and, later, joined the 3rd Battalion, serving in Egypt and Palestine from 1937-1939 as a lance corporal.
After the outbreak of the Second World War in early September 1939, he returned to Egypt and was based in Alexandria. Wright was promoted to acting lancesergeant on 1 September before being confirmed in the rank on 1 December 1939.
On 4 August 1941, Peter was appo…
