Lest We Forget
Profile of a Marmora soldier submitted by Gerald Belanger As we gaze upon the solemn cenotaph now peac~fully positioned on the north-western corner .of the Village park, we notice 12 names eternally etched m the steel gray side wings. . Names alphabetically arranged as if once removed from an old military roll-call book: Bonter, Brawley, Callery, Linn,Maloney, Nash, O'Brien, O'Connor.Regan, Reeves, Wilson and Wright. One can almost visualize each soldier snapping to attention and answering his name "Here, Sir" Located directl y above the names are the ye~rs ".19391945" uniformally cut deep in the garnet and highlighted in block black lithochrome. It is during those few years that 12 of Marmora' s finest and fittest young men died for their country. They would never return home again, not even for bunal purposes. We now profile one of these soldiers: Robert J. Wright - C4580 Robert J. Wright was born in Marmora, Ontario, on February 25, 1923. He was the son of Bruce W. Wright, a veteran of World War I, who had enlisted with the 155 Battalion. In 1933, Robert was attending the second class at the Marmora Public School. His classmates that year were: Doris Bedore, Isobel Hickey, Shirley Lummis, Cecil Nobes, Forest Robson and Victor Neal. Reference: Marmora Herald, July 6, 1933 By 1935, school attendance was only compulsory for children between the ages of eight and 14. This ruling at the time would later assist Robert in his desire to enlist with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. . In 1936another incident, although unrelated at the time but one that would certainly toughen Robert up for the military life later on, was the fact that the local Continuation School did not have a proper water system. The School, which had opened on September 7, 1920, was the onl y school in the County that had no pure drinking water, no place to wash and no proper toilet facilities. Reference: Marmora Herald, July 23, 1936
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By the time Robert reached his 16th birthday, he had already enlisted at Madoc, Ontario, with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. As a result, he was sent immediately for military training which was being held at the Picton fairgrounds until December 17, 1939. Robert left Picton by train for Halifax, Nova Scotia: then, hooked up with his Regiment which sailed overseas on December 23. N\ hR-Y'I'6
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Although under the required age limit (18 years), Robert was almost six feet tall and looked every bit the soldier. Whether Robert fudged or winked at the recruiting officer when asked his age, we will never know. Robert celebrated his 17th birthday with the first contingentofthe Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (now nicknamed the Hasty P's) which had now settled in at the Ma路ida Barracks, Aldershot Command, England. It is believed that at the time, Robert Wright was the youngest Canadian soldier to go overseas (certainly the youngest from this part of Ontario), wrote the Marmora Herald in a long detailed article on February 29, 1940. In December, 1940, Robert wrote to thank his mother and the Marmora Community War Workers for sending Christmas boxes to all the local boys who had enlisted. Each box contained a Christmas cake in bright wrapping paper, a pair of socks, a pair of gloves, 50 cigarettes, cake of chocolate, candy, dates, gum, 10 tea bags, 2 khaki handkerchiefs, a can of chicken and a can of apple juice. Robert wrote anotherlettertohis mother, this time from his hospital bed in North Africa. He writes, "I got wounded on July 15, 1943, but I'll be out of here in a few weeks and back with the boys. I just got off my motorcycle when a shell hit the gas tank and it went up in flames. I've found out the Germans are playing for keeps. When they oper路ated on my arm, they took off my shirt, boots, socks, wrist watch and paybook, and all I had on was my drill shorts." Reference: Marmora Herald, August 19, 1943 The next letter his mother received was from Lieut. Robert Scott, and he writes: "I feel it is my duty as a Marmora boy to drop a line at this time about the passing of your son Bob, as he was known to us. Yes, Bob was plucked from our midst on the night of Feb. 8, 1944, killed in action. An enemy shell came down in the vicinity to where his section was doing a standing patrol. I think Bob was the Corporal in charge of the section together with Sgt. Fitizpatrick of Cordova. I know you will appreciate this little bit of information and you will be glad to know I have visited his grave and had same nicely fixed up." Reference: Marmora Herald, March 16, 1944 On June 20. 1943, at St. Andrews United Church. Marmora, Mrs. Daniel Osbome, mother of Ray and Georgc Osbome. (both World War II veterans) unveiled an Honour Roll containing over 60 names of those on acti vc service from the Marmora congregation. Robert Wright's name is on this Honour Roll, which is presently hanging on the wall just before you enter the main body of the United Church. Reference: Marmora Herald, June 24, 1943