No.43589, Lance Corporal, Charles WARD
Aged 22
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Charles Ward was born in Walthamstow in 1896 (there are too many possible birth registrations), son of James Warren and Fanny WARD (née KINGSTON).
1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Quakers Lane, Bardwell with his father Jas Warren WARD [35] butcher's slaughterman born Bardwell; his mother Fanny [34] born Peterborough and sister Nellie [8] born Walthamstow. 1911 census...Aged 15, farm labourer, he was at School Lane, Bardwell with his parents and sister Nellie. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds around June 1916. He served in the 2nd Battalion and then the 9th Battalion before joining the 12th Battalion.
The Battalion war diary just puts them at Bullecourt, in the front line, quiet. Charles was the only fatality that day. The Bury Free Press of 23rd February 1918 reported :- YOUNG BARDWELL SOLDIER KILLED On Saturday last Mr. and Mrs. Warren Ward of Bardwell received official news that their son, Lance-Corpl Chas.Ward, Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action on Jan.21st on the Western Front.The sad news came as a shock to the whole village, and one and all greatly sympathise with the parents and sister in their heavy loss, especially as the father has been an invalid for several years.The gallant soldier previous to joining up was employed by Mr. A.Addison,Little Moor Hall Farm, Bardwell. He enlisted February 22, 1916,into the Suffolk Yeomanry, and was drafted out to France August 7th 1916, attached to the 2nd Batt. Suffolk Regiment. He was admitted into hospital on April 21,1917, suffering from sever frost bitten legs, allowed home on sick leave August 22, and returned to France October 4, 1917, joining the 12 Batt. Suffolk Regiment. He was a bright, attractive lad, and by his death a promising young life is cut short.he was 22 years of age.
photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
