Russell Francis Wright, MBE, Service number VX70200, was an Australian radio engineer and soldier.

Early life and education

Russell Francis Wright was born in Melbourne September 28, 1920, the son of Col. Charles C. and Mrs. Jessie G. Wright and twin brother of Norman Douglas Wright ED, Lt. Col. He married Irma (nee Sanders) in 1956 and was the father of Col. Iain Wright and Dr Stuart Wright. He was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne where he constructed his own technically advanced radio receiver.

World War Two

With the intention of following his father into the Army, Wright studied engineering at

Melbourne University The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state of Victoria. Its ...

. After enlisting during World War II in 1942, he left Singapore aboard the ''Mata Hari'' on

Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and raising of the Flag of Great Britain, Union Flag of Great Britain by Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, a ...

when the ship was captured by the Japanese. He was made a

prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

Changi Prison Changi Prison Complex, often known simply as Changi Prison, is a prison complex in the namesake district of Changi in the eastern part of Singapore. It is the oldest and largest prison in the country, covering an area of about . Opened in 193 ...

, where he and others built radios, concealing one receiver in a broom. Intelligence gathered by this means was vital to morale in the POW camp. In 1947, Lieutenant Wright was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire "For highly meritorious service and outstanding ability."

England

Following his education in Australia and his recovery from ill treatment by the Japanese, he pursued his studies of radio and engineering as a long time resident of England, gaining wide respect in the aircraft and nuclear power industries. He died suddenly in England 22 April 2012, in his 92nd year and was buried at a funeral held in

Caterham Caterham () is a town in the Tandridge (district), Tandridge district of Surrey, England. The town is administratively divided into two: Caterham on the Hill, and Caterham Valley, which includes the main town centre in the middle of a dry valle ...

, England on May 10, 2012.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Russell Francis 1920 births 2012 deaths Australian prisoners of war Members of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne