Name
George Richard Ward
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/11/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18593
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ANCRE BRITISH CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL
IV.E.2
France
Headstone Inscription
WE TRUST IN THE LIVING GOD WHO IS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN
UK & Other Memorials
Tewin Village Memorial,
St Peter’s Church Muster Roll, Tewin,
Family grave at St Peter's churchyard, Tewin
Pre War
George Richard Ward was born in 1897 in Kings Bridge, Tewin, Herts, the youngest son of Caleb and Janet Ward and one of seven children. He was baptised on 14 November 1897.
On the 1901 Census, the family were living at Kings Bridge, Tewin where his father was a ploughman on a farm. They remained in Tewin on the 1911 Census, when George was a schoolboy.
Wartime Service
George enlisted in Hertford and served with the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment which received orders to mobilise for service overseas on 10 July 1916.
The Battalion was involved in operations on the north bank of the Ancre river during the Battle of the Ancre, and began their advance at 6.45 am on 13 November 1916. As they advanced they sustained heavy casualties in and near the enemy front line, then advanced on to the enemy second line and beyond. In the evening all available men were withdrawn and taken down to Hamel and repositioned close to Beaucourt Road.
Nine officers were killed during the operation and George was one of 57 other ranks who died that day. Many more were wounded or missing.
He is buried in Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £8 10s and pay owing of £3 10s. His mother received a pension of 8s 6d a week from 1 September 1917.
He is also remembered in a memorial Inscription on family grave in St Peter's churchyard, Tewin. The inscription reads:
ALSO OF THEIR (Caleb and Janet Ward) DEAR SON
GEORGE RICHARD, KILLED IN FRANCE, 13TH NOVR. 1916. AGED 19 YEARS.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
GEORGE RICHARD, KILLED IN FRANCE, 13TH NOVR. 1916. AGED 19 YEARS.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
