Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

The rare campaign pair awarded to Captain H. T. Wright, Royal Navy, who was mentioned in despatches for his services in Perak and later in South Africa where he commanded the Naval Brigade in Zululand 1877-78

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (Lieut: H. T. Wright. R.N. H.M.S. “Modeste”); South Africa 1877-79, clasp, 1877-8 (Commr. H. T. Wright, R.N, H.M.S. “Active:) small official correction to second initial on this, good very fine (2) £4,000-£5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

View
Collection

Alan Hall Collection, June 2000.

Henry Townley Wright was born on 28 March 1846. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aboard the Britannia on 13 September 1859, when aged 13 years 6 months. He passed out of Britannia twelve months later and gained three months sea time. He joined H.M.S. Liffey in September 1860 and served aboard her for nearly two years, during which time he was promoted to Midshipman on 22 December 1861. In August 1862 he joined Royal Adelaide and was reappointed to Liffey in September 1862. He continued to serve in this ship until paying off in July 1865. On promotion to Sub Lieutenant on 21 July he joined the Royal Naval College at Excellent in November 1865 for a period of instruction and examination. On passing out of College in December 1865 he spent six months on shore prior to joining Jason in May 1866. He served in this ship until June 1868, having been promoted to Lieutenant on 3 April 1868.

In his new rank he was appointed to Scylla in April 1869 and served a four year commission on the Pacific station. On returning to England he was next afloat aboard Modeste on the East Indies Station which he joined in January 1874. During the two and a half years he served on this ship he took part in the Perak Expedition during 1875-6, raised to punish the murderers of the British Resident Mr J. W. Birch and several of his attendants at Passir Sala on 1 November 1875. Sultan Ismail was believed to have had a hand in the murders and had also been troublesome in recent months. Lieutenant Wright was landed with the Naval Brigade and fought onshore with the Laroot Field Force under Major-General Colborne. He was gazetted with praise for the successful attacks on villages below Blanja (Malay Pirates) and for his services with the Naval Brigade attached to the Laroot Field Force and promoted to Commander for these services.

On leaving Modeste in June 1896 he was given the command of Duncan in September 1876, but transferred to Tourmaline in October 1876, serving on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station. Whilst in this vessel he was frequently in action with slavers off Zanzibar. In July 1877 he was transferred to Active serving on the same Station. Whilst in Active he landed in Command of the Naval Brigade and fought on shore from September 1877 to June 1878. During this period the Naval Brigade fought at the battle of Quintana and took part in various operations against the Gealekas, Gaikas and other Kaffir tribes. For these services the officers and men who returned to their ship in July 1878 received the medal with clasp '1877-8'. Commander Wright was mentioned in Military Despatches with praise and recommended for promotion by General Sir A. Cuninghame for services with the Naval Brigade in operations against the Kaffirs.

On leaving Active in July 1878 he was transferred to Flora which he commanded until September 1881 when he was placed on shore on half pay until November 1884, when he served for two years in the Colonial Service until dismissed in 1886. He was placed on the Retired List on 17 September 1886, with the rank of Captain. He died on 11 November 1914.