No.G/52133, Private, Harry WARD
Aged 37
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Harry Ward was born in Birdbrook (Risbridge Q2-1880 4A:548), son of John and Emma WARD (née COLLAR).
1881 census...Age 11 months he was at Ridgewell Green, Birdbrook with his father John WARD [32] carpenter; his mother Emma [30]; brother Thomas [10]; sisters Edith [8], Mary [6] and Sarah E [4].All except Harry were born in Ridgewell. His father died in 1890 1891 census...Aged 10, he was "near The King's Head", Ridgewell with his widowed mother Emma WARD [40]; sisters Mary [16] and Nellie [8] and brother William [8]. All except Harry were born in Ridgewell 1901 census...Aged 20, a carpenter, he was at The Green, Ridgewell with his mother and brother William (domestic groom/gardener). He is now recorded as born in Ridgewell He married Annie Elizabeth EATON [7-4-1885], who later (1919) married Arthur L.TWITCHETT 1911 census...Aged 30 a carpenter/joiner, he was at Mill Road, Ridgewell with his wife Annie Elizabeth [25] born Squirrels Heath, Essex; daughters Florence Edith Ellen [26-8-1905] and Millie Doreen [9-10-1909]; son Arthur John [8-9-1909]. The children all born in Ridgewell. There were 3 more children, Stanley Leonard [16-12-1911], Thomas Frederick [31-3-1914] and Harry James [18-10-191]. |
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Harry enlisted in Warley. The battalion were in trenches between Fampoux and Gavrelle The war diary :- 23rd - Report received from OC Coys at 3 am that their Coys were in the attack formation. At zero hour(4:45 am) the battn advanced in accordance with the artillery barrage programme until the German second line was taken and here considerable confusion arose owing to men of the 63rd Bde getting over too much to the left.. About this point it was found difficult to make a further immediate advance owing to enemy enfilade machine gun fire and snipers. The Battn on our left was slightly in rear of us and we had to wait until they came up in line before the machine guns and snipers were silenced. The advance then continued up to the road running through I.1.c. At this point we were not in touch with the Battns on our left and right. A patrol was pushed out to find if CUBAS TRENCH was occupied. The patrol returned and reported the CUBA TRENCH was clear of the enemy.The Battn then consisting of 3 Officers and about 50 ORs occupied CUBA TRENCH at 9:30 am. Men of the 13th R.Fus and 13th K.R.R.C. arriving on our left about half an hour afterwards. Patrols were immediately sent out to get in touch with the 63rd Bde on our right, but returned having failed to do so, a defence flank was then formed by the machine guns on our right. Immediate consolidation of CUBA TRENCH was started. Patrols were periodically sent out to get into touch with the 63rd Bde but is was not until 9:55 pm that we succeeded in doing so. The Battn now occupied a frontage from 51B.I.7.a.6.9 to I 1.c.5.4. At 1 pm a patrol was sent out to reconnoitre the CROSS ROADS at I.2c but were unable to approach owing to very active enemy snipers. 50 prisoners were captured during the day. Patrols were sent out during the night. ASll through the advance the enemy barrage was very intense. CWGC records give 61 killed, 19 with no known grave, 37 are buried in Chile Trench Cemetery |
The line held at the end of day. now a motorway junction photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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