Name
Joseph James Ward
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/07/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12229
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY, OVILLERS-LA BOISSELLE
III. G. 15.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, St Peter’s Church Memorial, Bushey Heath
Pre War
Born in 1894 and baptised on 9 February 1894, Joseph James Ward was the son of Charles and Annie (nee Ambridge) Ward. His christening record names him as Joseph Henry Ward, whereas he is called Joseph James in the records from the Commonwealth War Graves, in the Register of Soldiers Died in the Great War and on his Pension Card. His parents were married on 15 May 1886 in Bushey.
At the 1901 census, Joseph was seven years old and was living in School Lane, Bushey with his parents and three siblings named William, Louisa Edith. They were aged 14, 5 and 3 years old respectively. Charles was 41 years old and working as a labourer and Annie was 38 years old. The birthplaces were given as Harrow Weald in Middlesex for Charles, Bushey for Annie, William and Louisa, and Watford for Joseph and Edith.
Annie died in the third quarter of 1904 and Charles is recorded on the 1911 census as a widower living ar 126 School Lane in Bushey. He was still working as a labourer for a builder. Joseph, who was now 17, was also a general labourer but was out of work. Also present were 15-year-old Louisa and 7-year-old Harold. Harold had also been born in Bushey.
William Charles was not present and must have enlisted previously since, at the 1911 census, he was a prisoner at the Police Station in High Street, Aldershot. He married a Nellie K Walker in the third quarter of 1911 in the Watford registration district.
Wartime Service
Joseph James Ward enlisted Watford with the Bedfordshire Regiment and served as Private 12229 in the 6th Battalion. He served in the western European theatre and was killed in action during the Somme campaign at the Battle of Bazentin, where 250 men were lost during the St. Swithen's Day assault against Contalmaison on 15th July 1916. Joseph was 22 years old and had only been fighting for a few weeks before he lost his life.
Joseph is buried at Pozieres British Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle in France (Grave reference: III.G.15). His head stone includes a personal inscription “EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS”. He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial at Clay Hill, at St James' Church, Bushey and at St Peter's Church, Bushey Heath.
The Register of Soldiers’ Effects named his Father as his sole legate and included payments of £4 6s. 9d for monies owing and a War Gratuity of £8 10s. Charles was also named as the dependant on his Pension Card, but without any pension award.
Joseph’s brother William Charles Ward was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and survived the war. He is reputed to have advised his younger brother to stay at home. The 1939 Register shows him and Nellie living at 11 Herbert Street in Watford with four of their children.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
