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A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
Officer Hit by Auto P.C. Robert Wright, 26, of 351 Cleveland St., is in Toronto General Hospital unconscious with a fractured skill after being struck by an automobile while directing traffic at Dupont and St. George last night. Wright, former lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy, graduated from the police class just six weeks ago. Arnold Benson, driver of the car, was arrested on a charge of careless driving. (undated newspaper article)
7 Weeks On Job Traffic Officer Killed, Toll 89 A police officer was killed and 20 persons injured in 42 accidents on Toronto streets yesterday It was the worst day of the year for the accidents, police said. The slushy conditions of streets and the increased pedestrian traffic due to Christmas shipping were blamed for the heavy list. The police officer killed was Constable Robert Anthony Wright, 26, who had only been on the force for seven weeks. He joined the police department after his discharge from the navy. He took the six weeks' course that police training school and was assigned to the traffic division. the accident occurred at Dupont and St. George Sts. shortly before 7 p.m.. He was in collision with a car driven by Arnold Benson, Bleecker St., police said, and suffered a fractured skill. Denson was arrested and charged with dangerous driving. Benson was remanded todya, on bail of $1,000, to Jan. 18. A manslaughter charge may be laid, the court was advised. Constable Wright lived on Cleveland St. His death raised Toronto's 1945 traffic toll to 89. Chief Coroner Dr. Smirle Lawson will hold an inquest. Born in Toronto, he was the son of James Wright and the late Mrs. Wright. he received his education at Northern Vocational school With the RCNVR for three years before the war, he went active at the outbreak as an ordinary seaman and rose to the rank of lieutenant before getting his discharge. In November, 1941, while on leave, he married Miss Doris Lorraine Crozier, who survives.
Ships served in: HMCS NORANDA - Appointed to Noranda 28 Jun 1943 as a SLt, RCNVR (seniority 15 Feb 1943) (Navy List Aug 1943). Appointed Lt, RCNVR (seniority 15 Feb 1944) (Navy List Feb 1944). 4th Commanding Officer 18 Oct 1944 - 07 Nov 1944 as Lt, RCNVR (Macpherson / Burgess - The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-1981) RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN Barracks Halifax, DEMS Training Centre 05 Feb 1945 as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Mar 1945)
Source: Undated Toronto Newspaper Courtesy of Theo Holtzheuser
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For Posterity's Sake 
