Name
William George Ward
1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12102
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ADANAC MILITARY CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT
III. E. 28.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth UDC Memorial,
St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Rickmansworth,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
William Ward was born in 1883 in Rickmansworth, son of William and Harriet Ward.
In 1891 the family were living at Parsonage Road, his father William being a blacksmith. William had an elder brother, 2 elder sisters and a younger sister.
In 1901 the family were living in Talbot Road next to the Old Police Station. William’s father had died in 1896 so his mother, Harriet was a widow. Two sisters were still living there as well as a granddaughter. William, age 17, was working as a coal hawker.
By 1911 Harriet had married Joseph Cross and was living in Ebury Road . The two sisters and the granddaughter were also living with them, as was William, who was then working as a cabman at the railway station.
Wartime Service
William Ward enlisted at London. He was formerly in the Bedfordshire Regiment 6th Battalion which later amalgamated with the Hertfordshire Regiment. They entered France on 30.07.1915.
The War Diaries for August 23rd 1918 state that ‘The Battalion attacked at 11am. Attack successful. Railway cutting in front of Achiet-le-Grand taken. Casualties- Other ranks 26 killed 140 wounded. The Battle of Albert was the opening push which led to the 2nd Battle of the Somme.
His effects of £12 2s 3d and a War gratuity of £18 10s were left to his mother, Harriet Cross.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
Malcolm Lennox, Paul Johnson, Jonty Wild
