Name
Frank Samuel Ward
1875
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/11/1918
43
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
291130
Norfolk Regiment [Labour Corps]
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KINGSWOOD (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD
East of Church.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St Paul's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead
Pre War
Frank Samuel Ward was born in Northington, nr Winchester, Hampshire in early 1875, the son of John and Eleanor Ward, and baptised on 4 April 1875. He was one of seven children, although his two sisters, Eleanor and Daisy died in childhood.
His parents were both school teachers and soon after he was born the family moved to Banstead in Surrey. When he left school in 1888 he went to work in a shop and in 1891 was employed as a 'Shopman' by Jubal Webb, who was a Cheesemonger and had premises in Kensington High Street, London.
By 1905 he was living and working in Hemel Hempstead at 73 High Street in a Drapery store owned by William Clarke, where Frank worked as a Clerk and Cashier. He remained working for William Clarke until enlistment.
Wartime Service
He volunteered in 1915 on 19 December when he was almost 40 years old and was posted to the Army Reserve.
He was mobilised in March 1916 but was again posted to the Army Reserve, although on 21 May 1917 he was eventually posted to the 11th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and began basic training. The following October the Battalion were ordered to disband and he was transferred to the Labour Corps and posted to 667 Agricultural Company, perhaps because he was considered unfit for frontline combat. He then worked on the land which was a vital role in food production.
In January 1918 the global pandemic known as the 'Spanish Flu' began and reached its peak near the end of the year with the repatriation of severely ill soldiers which spread the virus to the UK, resulting in a quarter of the population being affected. Frank became ill on 3 November 1918 and was admitted to Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, Essex. He was diagnosed with influenza and treated, which resulted in a slight improvement, however he had contracted bronchopneumonia and died on 19 November 1918, aged 43, nearly two weeks after being admitted and eight days after the Armistice.
His body was returned to his parents who were then living at Tadworth, Surrey and he was buried at St Andrew's Church, Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey on 26 November 1918.
Additional Information
A war gratuity was not admissible but his father received his pay owing of £5 16s 8d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com.,
