Joseph Benjamin Wright was born to boilermaker Reuben Benjamin and Sarah Wright.

He went to Westoe Secondary School from 1904 to 1909, and left to train to be a teacher.

He joined the Durham Light Infantry, and served as a Lieutenant.

Initially, he was reported missing, but later declared to have died on 21-Apr-1916, and is listed on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, a memorial to those whose bodies were never found.