Eardley Wright joined the 48th Highlanders militia regiment prior to 1939 and volunteered in early September 1939, just days after war had been declared, for overseas duty as a Lt. with the 48th Highlanders. His father was also member of the 48th Highlanders – Major John Wright – who joined in 1911. Following training on the CNE grounds with barracks in the Horse Palace, Lt Wright, as Platoon commander in HQ Company, went with the battalion by CN train on 17 December to Halifax where they boarded the Reina del Pacifico, as part of the convoy of the 1st Canadian contingent bound for the UK, then to Aldershot for training. On 12 June, 1940, the battalion’s transport went in advance of the battalion, with Lt Wright as Carrier Officer, to France, just two weeks after the evacuation of the British and Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. Ordered on the 16th to return to England they returned to Brest and England by the 18th, leaving their carriers behind.

Wright returned to Canada in 1941 to be a training officer, then returned to the 1st Battalion as a Captain, Officer Commanding D Company. When the battalion sailed from Scotland on HM Troopship Derbyshire to the 10 July 43 landing at Pachino, Sicily. Now OC Support Company Capt Wright led the loading of troops on the assault boats. After the successful Sicilian campaign Wright was made OC of Able Company for the landings at Reggio, Italy. They found the Germans retreating, blowing every bridge. Able Company led an advance inland toward Mt. Basilico, meeting and defeating only the Italian Blackshirts and the 185th Regiment, but no Germans, proving that General Kesselring was pulling his German division out of the “Toe”. On 18 September with 1st Brigade now 100 miles ahead of the Division,  Captain Wright’s Able company was selected as the only infantry in the Brigade’s totally mechanized “Jock Column”, supporting the PLDGs and two sections of anti-tank, mortars and Vickers machine guns. They chased the Germans, with 1st Brigade following, out of the Toe to the Foggia airport on the 29th. In the next phase, the advance to Campobasso, Able company captured Volturara, before the battalion hit a major German position, only cleared by a full Brigade attack near San Marco. Captain Wright continued to lead Able Company through the battles to capture Campobasso on 13 October and then Torella when the 48th were sent to drive the Germans out of artillery range and stop them shelling Campobasso.

On 14 November 1943, Captain Wright and two other officers left the regiment as part of Operation Pouch, which sent battle proven officers and Senior NCOs back to England to have their experience as the backbone of Canadians units there.  His confirmed majority came through after he departed. In August 1944 he joined the North Nova Scotia Highlanders leading C Company up to 17 December 1944 through the battles of the Falaise Gap, Mount Lambert at Boulogne and the Scheldt pocket.  He was awarded the DSO for his leadership and battlefield bravery.