Pte
William John Ward

Informations sur naissance

Date de naissance:
10/07/1886
Lieu de naissance:
Bethnal Green, Middlesex, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni

Informations générales

Profession:
Brosseur

Informations service militaire

Pays:
Irlande, Royaume-Uni
Force armée:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Numéro de service:
43410
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Bethnal Green, Middlesex, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni
Unités:
 —  Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
13/08/1917
Lieu de décès:
Passerelle Farm, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
31

Mémorial

Distinctions et médailles 2

British War Medal
Médaille — 30/09/1920
Victory Medal
Médaille — 30/09/1920

Points d'intérêt 2

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement

Mon histoire

William John Ward was born in 1886 in Bethnal Green, Middlesex. He was the eldest child of John William and Sarah Annie Ward. Before enlisting into the military, William Ward worked as a brush maker. In 1916, William married Florence Harper and his daughter, Iris Florence Ward, was born.

William initially enlisted into the London Regiment but by the Battle of Passchendaele he served in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Innskilling Fusiliers, part of the 87th Brigade of the 29th Division. On 12 August 1917, William’s Battalion took over frontline trenches along the Steenbeek stream, west of Langemark. The 1st Inniskillings occupied positions in the right sector of the 87th Brigade, roughly between Pinson and Ruisseau Farm. The other bank of the Steenbeek stream was dominated by Passerelle Farm. This position had been consolidated on the previous day and twelve wooden bridges had been erected across the stream. On 13 August 1917 a German patrol was driven off from an advanced post across the Steenbeek after a brief encounter.

On the 13th of August 1917 the 1st Inniskillings suffered five casualties, while holding the line at Passerelle Farm. Three men were wounded and two men of the Battalion went missing. These two men were 31 year-old Private William John Ward and 22-year old Private Francis Cullen. They disappeared on the fateful day and were never seen again. Both men were later declared killed in action and are remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Fichiers 1

Sources 5

"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 49-56.
Sources utilisées
Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/
Autre référence
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/912970/ward,-william-john/
Sources utilisées
The Long, Long Trail
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/
Sources utilisées
War Diary Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Autre référence