John Ward - Ireland to Liverpool to the Somme - WW1

[Ken Lees]

Here I am again, with my research into soldiers who served in the King's Liverpool Regiment in the Great War.

I wonder if anyone can offer any advice on researching this man:

John Christopher Ward was born about 1888 in Tipperary, Ireland. He was the son of Francis and Frances Ward, both born in Ireland.

The 1901 Census shows that they lived at 80, Roxburgh Street, Walton on the Hill. Francis Ward is shown as a Customs Officer, but there is also the word 'pensioner' and something else in the occupation column that I can't decipher.

John's siblings were born between 1879 and 1896, all in Ireland, so I assume that the family moved from Ireland to Liverpool at some time between 1896 and early 1901.

John served in the Territorials of the 9th King's until the start of the Great War and was killed in action in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.

Shortly after his death, I know that his mother was a widow, living at 115, Carisbrooke Rd., Walton, Liverpool.

I have checked Ancestry and found his Medal index Card, but nothing else. Are there any Irish Census records available to search anywhere online or elsewhere?

Any advice on further lines of enquiry for his life in Liverpool?

Thanks,

Ken

[MaryA]

I believe the other letters next to Frances occupation would be RIC - Royal Irish Constabulary.

If you had already read what I had written, sorry, but I misread the age of Francis.

So born approximately 1847 he could be one of those on the Royal Irish Constabulary Database
Three Francis Wards born
Galway age 18 in 1865 so birth date about 1847 married
Donegal age 20 in 1866 so birth date about 1846
Fermanagh age 18 in 1879 so birth date about 1861 married

Eldest daughter born 1879, his marriage was more likely to be in the mid 1870's so looks like it might be the Donegal one!

[Tina]

Hi Ken
Francis was alive at the time of 1911 Directory, customs officer 115 Carisbrooke Rd, Walton N.

Possibly died dec qtr 1915 W Dby rego aged 68yrs.

Tina

[Tina]

Hi Ken
115 Carisbrooke Rd 1938 Directory

The Misses Agnes, Frances & Josephine Ward.

That's 3 marriages we won't have to look for

William Stephen Ward Customs Officer 56 Bellamy Rd Lpool 4

Tina

[Ken Lees]

Mary and Tina,

Once more, you've hit the nail on the head. Thank you both for yet more help in my searches.

Now I want to try and find out more about Francis's son, John Christopher Ward, up to the time of his death on the Somme in 1916.

I suspect that he enlisted into the 9th King's Liverpool Regt. at some time before 1910, so probably lived in Liverpool from then until leaving for the war.

Ken

[Mark Abbott]

Ken,

Try the 1911 Census.



Mark

[Tina]

Hi Mark

Mary, I think Francis may have come from Salt Hill Galway.
Frances from Geevagh Sligo & some of the kiddies from Carrick on Shannon Co Sligo.

Ken: familysearch IGI has a marriage 11/2/1878 R.C Geevagh
Francis(Franciscus) Ward to Frances (Francesca) McCawley.
Father listed as Michaeli Ward.
Frances father also listed as Michaeli Mc "space" Cawley.
Woo Hoo....

Tina

[Ken Lees]

Ken,

Try the 1911 Census.



Mark

Help given Courtesy of Tina: and information courtesy of the National Archives

Francis Ward 64 HM Customs Clerk bn Sall-Hill Co. Galway
Frances Ward 54 married 33yrs housekeeper bn Geevagh Co Sligo
Agnes 30 shorthand typist bn Geevagh
Frances E 26 clerk & bookeeper bn Pilltown Co Kilkenny
Celia J 25 clerk & bookeeper bn Carrick on Selly Co Tipperrary
Francis M 24 post office clerk ditto
John C 23 marine clerk ditto
William S 19 shipping clerk bn Newport Co. Mayo
Mary Josephine 15 scholar bn ditto

115 Carisbrooke Rd Walton

Thanks Tina

[MaryA]

Good going both of you!

[Tina]

Thank you Ken and Mary.
My pleasure to help in memory of John Christopher.

Tina

Lest We Forget

[Ken Lees]

Thanks to all the assistance I have received from the helpful members of this Forum and elsewhere I am building quite a full account of John Christopher Ward's short life.

I have e-mailed the website of the Royal Irish Constabulary to see if I can find out more about his father's service in the RIC prior to the family's move to Liverpool.

The icing on the cake would be to find a photograph of John, or an article about him in one of the Liverpool newspapers, as I'm sure his death would have been reported, if nothing else. I can feel a trip into the library coming on.

My thanks again to those who have helped me with this research, including Mark A, for his encouragement.

Ken

[Tina]

Hi Ken
Just to add, a friend looked in later Directory for the Misses Ward & couldn't find them. Perhaps they married? Doubtful? Moved away from Lpool? Bombings etc??

Good luck

Tina

[promenade]

Ken,

Consider your cake iced . .


Before the war he was he was a leading figure in the Volunteer and TF movements. He was Secretary to the Officers Billiards League and President of the Officers Mess. He rejoined his own TF Bn at the outbreak of the war and went to the Front in Feb 1915. He was awarded the DCM (sic) after the Battle of Loos for conspicuous and gallant conduct in bringing his Bn through a charge and capturing prisoners and guns when all his brother officers became casualties. He was killed at 5.30am on 12/8/16 while again leading his men after his Captain had fallen. He fell wounded three times but got up each time and was finally killed on top of the German parapet shouting "Come on lads this is the shortest cut home". He was due a months furlough on 4/8/16 but decided to stay in France until a new draft came out from England to relieve them. He was buried alongside his officer in No Man's Land. Before the war he was employed by the Reliance Marine Insurance Co Ltd and lived at 115, Carisbrooke Rd., Walton. (Post & Mercury 6/9/16)

[MaryA]

Well that just wraps it up beautifully!

[Ken Lees]

Marvellous! Thanks, Joe. That information ties in very nicely and confirms the details that I have discovered from other sources.

Ken

[Ken Lees]

Thanks to all those who contributed to my research into John Ward, I have now written up as much of his story as I have been able to compile and published it on my website.

For those who would like to see the finished product it is at http://www.9thkings.co.uk and click on the "Biographies" button.

Thanks again,

Ken

[MaryA]

Your site is looking great Ken, well done. I'm proud of the mention of our Forum's help too.

I have a question you may be able to advise me. Is there any way of finding out why a soldier was awarded the Croix de Guerre ie what did he do to deserve it?

[Ken Lees]

Thanks for the kind comment about the website, Mary.

As for the Croix de Guerre, the award was usually announced in the London Gazette which is searchable online, although the search facility is idiosyncratic at best. Even if you do find the entry there, it is likely to show only the name and unit the man served in, not the reason why it was awarded.

There is no central record kept of the details of the awards, so local sources are your best chance, newspapers, etc. It can also be worth trying the regimental museum or any published history of the unit.

If you want me to make some enquiries, let me have the details that you have and I'll see what I can find.

Ken

[MaryA]

Thanks Ken, I'll ask my cousin if she wants me to pass on any details first as she's planning a trip to the National Archives shortly and hopes to find something out. Be in touch, thanks.

Mary

[Tina]

Hi
My Uncle Dickie was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre.
The village in Belgium had tried for many years to find out who he was, he manned a machine gun by himself, while the rest of his squad retreated not knowing a battery of Germans was on it's way.
He kept them at bay while the villagers escaped.
My Auntie Pauline was invited to receive his cross in the 1960's presented by the Lord Mayor.What an emotional time for her and my two cousins.
The gifts/hospitality/ etc they received was amazing.
Pauline had no idea what Dickie had done.
Dickie was born Thomas Ernest Cornthwaite!!
Hence the confusion.

Tina