Pte
Donald Henry Charles Ward
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 01/02/1898 |
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Place of birth: Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 291033 |
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Enlistment place: Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Devonshire Regiment, 9th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 10/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Jolting Houses, Beselare, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 39 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Donald Henry Charles Ward was born on 1 February 1898 at Winchester, Hampshire, Engeland. He was the son of Charles and Caroline Ward. Donald enlisted at Winchester, Hampshire, Engeland. He served as a private in the 9th Bn. Devonshire Regiment, part of the 20th Brigade, of the 7th Division.
The 22nd Brigade planned an attack to improve front line near Polygon Wood that was captured the previous days. They would attack south, with the aim of capturing Juniper Cottage, Juniper Wood Judge Cottage and Judge Copse. For this purpose, the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment was temporarily attached to the 22nd Brigade and placed in reserve. They held north of Jetty Wood at first but later moved up to Jolting Trench, east of Jolting Houses. At 5:20 a.m. on 9 October 1917, the 22nd Brigade attacked. By 6:30 a.m. the objectives on the right had been taken, but German troops were still holding out at Judge Copse near Zwaanhoek. At 8:40 a.m. one company of the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment in reserve was sent up to fill a gap in the front line. After nightfall three platoons of this company attacked and captured Judge Copse. In the night between 9/10 October 1917 two companies of the 9th Devons were in reserve in Jolting Trench and one company held the line between Judge Copse and Zwaanhoek. On 10 October 1917 the area held by the 22nd Brigade was shelled, causing heavy casualties. Later that day the brigade and the 9th Devons were relieved.
Donald Ward, aged 19, was killed in action on October 10, 1917. It’s unclear if he was among the men at Jolting Houses or Judge Copse. He is commemorated on panel 39 of the Tyne Cot Memorial.
The 22nd Brigade planned an attack to improve front line near Polygon Wood that was captured the previous days. They would attack south, with the aim of capturing Juniper Cottage, Juniper Wood Judge Cottage and Judge Copse. For this purpose, the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment was temporarily attached to the 22nd Brigade and placed in reserve. They held north of Jetty Wood at first but later moved up to Jolting Trench, east of Jolting Houses. At 5:20 a.m. on 9 October 1917, the 22nd Brigade attacked. By 6:30 a.m. the objectives on the right had been taken, but German troops were still holding out at Judge Copse near Zwaanhoek. At 8:40 a.m. one company of the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment in reserve was sent up to fill a gap in the front line. After nightfall three platoons of this company attacked and captured Judge Copse. In the night between 9/10 October 1917 two companies of the 9th Devons were in reserve in Jolting Trench and one company held the line between Judge Copse and Zwaanhoek. On 10 October 1917 the area held by the 22nd Brigade was shelled, causing heavy casualties. Later that day the brigade and the 9th Devons were relieved.
Donald Ward, aged 19, was killed in action on October 10, 1917. It’s unclear if he was among the men at Jolting Houses or Judge Copse. He is commemorated on panel 39 of the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 3
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20 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/1654/5). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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22 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/1661/4). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Note: the war diaries of the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment between January and December 1917 were lost. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/825944 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=19be5b1c-0494-42db-ac49-910e4651f3d5 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4612494 |