Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
Date Information
15/12/2019
15/12/2019 A list of 93 passengers of the Athenia, now officially reported missing, was issued on Monday – five weeks after the liner was sunk by a German submarine. Nine of the victims had Ulster connections. They are: David Wright (63), laundty manager, Tyrone address – Killshannagh.
15/12/2019
15/12/2019 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 14th October 1939:
15/12/2019 David Wright has no known grave. Her name is listed in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour at St. George’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey in London.
15/12/2019 The Athenia was the first British ship sunk by Germany during World War Two. 117 passengers and crew died. Germany denied sinking the Athenia at the time.
15/12/2019 David Wright was described as being a 63 year old laundry manager, a US citizen.
15/12/2019 On 3rd September 1939 when it was attacked and sunk by a German U-boat in the Atlantic, 340 miles off the Donegal coast.
15/12/2019 On 1st September 1939, SS Athenia left Glasgow for Montreal via Liverpool and Belfast. She carried 1,103 passengers, including about 500 Jewish refugees, 469 Canadians, 311 US citizens and 72 UK subjects, and 315 crew. David Wright was a passenger on board SS Athenia.
15/12/2019 The 1911 census lists a David Wright, aged 37, living with his sister at house 13 in Kilmore, Minterburn.
15/12/2019 The 1901 census lists a David Wright, aged 29, living at house 17 in Kilmore, Minterburn, County Tyrone. Both David and his father were farmers.
15/12/2019 According to newspaper reports, David was from Killshannagh, County. Tyrone. This is almost certainly Kilsannagh. Kilsannagh borders Kilmore.
15/12/2019 Known family: John Wright, Mary Wright (born about 1861), David Wright (born about 1872), Lizzie Wright (born about 1878).
15/12/2019 David Wright was the son of John Wright. He was born about 1872 in County Tyrone.
Read more