Albert Edward Wright (Coventry Police)

Dear People of Coventry I am currently researching my family tree and am concentrating on my grandfather Albert Edward Wright. He was born in Countesthorpe and served in the Coventry Police Force and The Royal Warwickshire Regiment 13th Battalion. I have attached a few photos of Albert in police uniform - he is the Sergeant (S2 in the foreground). Albert also played football and cricket and I will be posting additional photos later (Cricket and Football). Regarding his police career I have been told the following:- Albert joined the police and was then conscripted into the 13th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a PTI - he trained troops and served with the Devonshire and Worcester Regiments. Albert briefly went to France but I understand that as a police officer he was retained in the UK in case of civil unrest. I was told that Albert was injured when the oak door of the police station was blown onto his back when a bomb exploded (I am not sure if this was the IRA bomb or when the police station was bombed during WW2). If anyone has any information on Albert I would be delighted to hear from you. I will be posting additional photos of Albert in the near future - these will include football + cricket + Warwickshire Regiment at Coventry train station. Kind regards Ian Wright

Hello Ian and welcome to our friendly forum I'm sure there will be great interest surrounding your grandfather's story

I don't know about any other bombing but the police station on St Mary Street was hit during the war, though it's sometimes attributed to the Council House, which the buildings are now part of. I think that this is a picture of it. And this shows where it was (middle of the map).

2008 view

Hello Ian, do you have a Family tree? Abraham George WRIGHT, father of William WRIGHT born 1866. William married Emily HUBBARD 27 Jan 1890, their son - Albert Edward WRIGHT born 14 Jul 1890 Countesthorpe, Blaby, Leicestershire. There are many documents regarding Albert's military career.

The IRA bomb was a long way from the police station, but almost every one of the windows of the council house were blown out, some pretty coloured. Wherever they dumped the glass someone would maybe think they had found a medieval building - as you can see from Helen's photo the old blue lamp survived. There was a deep cellar to the cells that I would have loved to explore - it wasn't to be.

Hi. Yes I do, thank you - I have been working on it for some years Thanks anyway

For additional photos of Albert Wright in his various careers, there is now a "Photo mystery" page on the main Historic Coventry site. If anyone can identify any more names of places, please pop back here and share what you know.

Rob has done a fantastic photo mystery page for Albert Wright - Several pictures relating to Coventry Police, Football, Cricket and The Royal Warwickshire Regiment - If anyone has any information on the following:- Where are the sports grounds? Who are the football teams? Why were the Royal Warwickshires billeted to Exmouth during WW1? Any additional information would be welcomed. Thanks Ian

I know my response is now four years out of date so may be of no use! During WWI & WWII the Army had a camp on Woodbury Common near Exmouth. It was called Dalditch Camp and there are many remains of it still there. Exmouth is the nearest town, so this could be why it was believed he was billeted there. I knew a man (now deceased) who was in the Royal Warwicks and trained there in WWII. There is a book about the camps with lots of photographs. Exmouth Museum would also be able to provide information.