Pte
William John Ward

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
10/07/1886
Geboorteplaats:
Bethnal Green, Middlesex, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Borstelmaker

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Noord-Ierland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
43410
Dienstneming plaats:
Bethnal Green, Middlesex, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
13/08/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Passerelle Farm, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
31

Gedenkplaats

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

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

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

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.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 5

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