10339 Pte Robert Wraight of the 15th (King's) Hussars was killed in action on this day, 23rd August, 1914; the day on which the British Expeditionary Force engaged the German Army at Mons.
Robert was born in Islington and living in London when he enlisted with the 15th Hussars in August 1913. He gave his place of residence as Upper Holloway. He appears on the 1901 census as Robert H Wraight living with is widowed mother and siblings at 69 Hampden Road, Upper Holloway. The household comprised Mary Wraight (aged 39, widow, born in Ireland) and her sons: George L Wraight (aged 18), Leonard Wraight (aged 16), John W Wraight (aged 14), Arthur W Wraight (aged 12), Robert, and William Wraight (aged two); and one daughter: Mary E Wraight (aged five). George had also been born in Ireland, Leonard and John in Maidenhead, and all the other children in north London.
Robert's medal index card indicates that he arrived in France on 16th August 1914 and he'd therefore been there for just one week when he was killed in action. He is buried at Hautrage Military Cemetery in Belgium; grave reference IV.A.20.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Sources:
Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1901 Census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Great War I Was There - cavalrymen photographed in Belgium on 22nd August 1914
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