Main CPGW Record
Surname: WARD
Forename(s): James
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: 12842
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 2nd Battalion
Division: 4th Division
Age: 32
Date of Death: 1917-10-10
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 82 to 85.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
James Ward was the son of John and Margaret Ward, née Stott and brother of Private John Ward (235305) (q.v.). Their father was born at Embsay and mother at New Houses Edge near Lofthouse, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire. James and John, junior, had a half-brother, Thomas, who was the father of Gunner Charles Ward (176517) (q.v.).
1891 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 36, Cumberland Street - James Ward, aged 5 years, born Skipton, son of John and Margaret Ward.
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 18, Cross Street - James Ward, aged 15 years, born Skipton, son of Margaret Ward, widow.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 24, Pembroke Street - James Ward, aged 25 years, born Skipton, son of Margaret Ward, widow.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte James Ward, 3/12842, West Riding Regiment. Theatre of War first served in: (1) [France]. Date of entry therein: 10 November 1915.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
WARD, James, aged 32, son of Mrs. Ward, Pembroke Street, Skipton, killed in action Oct. 9, 1917.
---
Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.
Private James WARD
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 4th Division
---
View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
James Ward
Source: Unknown
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
02 November 1917
SKIPTON STRETCHER BEARER KILLED
We are sorry to hear that information has been received that Private James Ward, West Riding Regiment, son of the late Mr. John Ward, milk dealer, and of Mrs. Ward, 21, Pembroke Street, Skipton, was killed in action in Flanders on October 9th.
A brother, Sergt. J. Ward, of the Canadian Forces, has written home stating that Private Ward had assisted in the carrying to the dressing station of a wounded man, and had just placed the stretcher on the ground and lit a cigarette when a large shell burst close to him, a small piece hitting him in the right temple resulting in his bleeding to death. Sergeant Ward also stated that he had been told that his brother had refused to take leave a few weeks before his death.
A chaplain has also written a letter of sympathy to Mrs. Ward, in which he states that the work of a stretcher bearer demands the highest courage and utmost endurance. Deceased, he adds, was a fine fellow of whom, in the better days to come, his relatives would be proud because of his self-sacrifice.
Thirty-two years old, Private Ward enlisted in May 1915, and went to France the following November. In civil life he was a warp-dresser at Messrs. Rose, Hewitt and Co.’s Broughton Road Shed, and was associated with the Trinity Wesleyan Sunday School. Two other brothers are serving – Sergt. Ward named above, and Private John Ward with the Yorkshire Regiment, both of whom are in France.
09 November 1917
PRIVATE JAMES WARD, SKIPTON
We reproduce a photograph of Private James Ward, West Riding Regiment, son of the late Mr. John Ward, milk dealer, and of Mrs. Ward, 24, Pembroke Street, Skipton, who was killed on October 9th, as stated in our last week’s issue.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
02 November 1917
WARD – Oct. 9th 1917, killed in action in Belgium, Pte. James Ward, son of the late Mr. John Ward, and of Mrs. Ward, of Pembroke Street, Skipton, aged 32.
02 November 1917
SKIPTON STRETCHER-BEARER KILLED
Private James Ward. of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, son of the late Mr. John Ward, milk dealer, and of Mrs. Ward, of 21 Pembroke Street Skipton, was killed in action in Belgium on October 9th. A brother, Sergt. J. Ward, of the Canadian Forces, serving in France, in a letter to his mother states:– “Perhaps you have heard already about James. This afternoon I passed the place where his regiment were staying, so I got permission to go and look for him. The first man I met sent me to another who was working with James at the time he was hit. He told me that James and he had just carried a wounded man to the advanced dressing station, and had put the stretcher on the ground, and was lighting a cigarette, when a large shell burst close to them, and a small piece hit James in the right temple and he bled to death. He lived about an hour. I could scarcely believe it at the time when he was telling me. He told me James would not take a leave when they offered him one a few weeks ago, as he said it would upset you leaving again to come out here. He wrote to me in July, and I wrote twice, but never got a reply to my last letter. Well, he is at rest, and if he did what I asked him to do in the last letter, he is the best off of the two of us.”
A chaplain to the forces also writes:– “It is a comfort to know that your son laid down his life in the service of stricken men. I can assure you that under the conditions then existing the work of a stretcher-bearer demanded the highest courage and utmost endurance. He was a fine fellow, and you will be proud of him. Your son has followed in the steps of his Lord, Who came not to be ministered unto but to minister and Who gave His life a ransom for many, and in the new and better day which will presently dawn upon the whole world, you will be proud do remember that your boy gave all that he had as part of the price of his redemption. You will then see the fruit of his self-sacrifice and of your sorrow.” Private Ward, who was 32 years of age, enlisted in May, 1915, and, went out to France in November of the same year. He was formerly employed as a warp dresser by Messrs. Rose, Hewitt and Co., Broughton Road Shed, Skipton. He was also formerly connected with the Trinity Wesleyan Sunday school. There are two other sons serving, Sergeant J. Ward. of the Canadian Forces, and Private John Ward, of the Yorkshire Regiment, both of whom are in France.
Comment on this Soldier Record
You can leave comments on this soldier record. Please note all comments will be manually approved before they appear on the website.
No comments yet.