Framed commemorative photo, medals and next-of-kin plaque: Private Frank Thomas Wright, 2nd Battalion, AIF

Vertically framed commemorative memorial for 572 Private Frank Thomas Wright, 2nd Battalion, AIF, who died of wounds received at Gallipoli. An small enlistment photo of Private Wright appears at the top in its own round gilded frame, below which is a Next-of-kin plaque named 'Frank Thomas Wright'. On either side of this are the Victory Medal and British War Medal 1914-20; beneath the plaque is the 1914-15 Star. The backing for these elements is a piece of figured plywood; each element sits within a recess which has been hand cut. This is in turn backed by velvet or velveteen which has faded. Although the memorial has been recently reglazed, the frame and mount are original.

Born in Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales, Frank Thomas Wright enlisted in the AIF on 18 August 1914, claiming that he was a storeman when he was in fact a solicitor, based at Waverley. After initial training he was posted a private, service number 572, to E Company, 2nd Battalion. He embarked for Egypt with his battalion from Sydney on 18 October 1914, aboard HMAT A23 Suffolk, and arrived in Alexandria on 8 December.

During further training in Egypt Wright transferred to the battalion's B Company. In April he travelled to Gallipoli aboard the British transport HT Derffliger. The battalion landed at Gallipoli as part of the second or third wave on 25 April 1915. Wright received gunshot wounds the same day but was only evacuated from the peninsular on 28 April, aboard the Derfflinger again. Wright died on 29 April, aged 29, and was buried at sea the following day. His name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.

Wright's personal belongings were sent to his parents in March and April 1916. The medals and next-of-kin plaque had been received by his father, Thomas John Wright by August 1922. The framed Memorial would have been made anytime after that, but is likely, based on style and materials, to have been made in the mid-1920s.