Lodge 448 was formed in memory of 2nd Lt. Matthew J. Wright, Royal Irish Rifles, killed in action on the Somme 1st July 1916.
LIEUTENANT MATTHEW J. WRIGHT
NORTHERN WHIG ( Page 10 ) – FRIDAY, JULY 7 , 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR
Second-Lieutenant M. J. Wright
Second-Lieutenant Matthew J. Wright, Royal Irish Rifles, killed in action on 1st July, was the fourth son of the Rev. Dr. Wright, Newtownards, and one of his three sons who joined the colours. His third son, Lieutenant W. M. Wright was, as already stated in our columns, wounded on 29th June, and is at present in hospital.
Second-Lieutenant Matthew Wright was a member of one of the Newtownards companies of the Ulster Volunteer Force, and he joined the Young Citizen Volunteers as a private shortly after the outbreak of the war, receiving his commission in the same battalion a couple of months later. He proceeded with the Young Citizens to France in October last year, and for a time was engaged in the bomb-throwing school. He met with a rather serious accident in May last, and was sent home to recuperate. He received permission to extend his home leave, but he refused to accept the privilege, preferring, as he stated, to be with "the boys" at the front.
