Name
Thomas Walter Ward
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/12/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201372
Norfolk Regiment
1st/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY
G. 65.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial. Wallington
Pre War
Thomas was the son of Samuel Ward and was born in Wallington. We have yet to find details of his early life but we know that he joined up in a surge of patriotic zeal alongside many of his fellow village friends in order to fight for King and country in World War One.
He enlisted in Hitchin and joined the 1st/4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment with a number of 201372.
Wartime Service
From Watford, as part of the 163rd Brigade he would have entrained for Liverpool and sailed on the Aquitania to the island of Lemnos in readiness for the landing on “A” Beach, Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on August 10th 1915 under the command of Captain E.W.Montgomerie.
Throughout August they were regularly under fire and it was noted that the Turks were using women snipers! Most of the losses that month were due to sickness as food and water were often difficult to obtain and the hot sun and dreadful living conditions made dysentery a killer on the Gallipoli beaches. For the next 3 months they were involved in trench warfare losing many men to the bullet and disease before the decision was made to withdraw and the battalion was evacuated on December 7th to Mudros and thence to Egypt for rest and recuperation having suffered nearly 300 casualties.
The 1st/4th Battalion was sent next to Palestine in 1917 where the Turks were putting up strong resistance. Fighting took place throughout the year but on December 9th after dreadful slaughter on both sides Jerusalem finally surrendered to General Sir E. Allenby. Still the fighting continued and from the 11th. Thomas’ battalion was in action at Stone Heap Hill, Cistern Hill and Zephiziyeh Hill with bayonet charges taking place.
At 8am. on the 15th December, with 'D' and 'A' company leading, 'C' in support and 'B' in reserve, they assembled in a cactus garden about 1600yards south-west of Stone Heap Hill and on the north-west of Deir Turief. The crest of the objective was reached almost at charging pace but they encountered heavy machine gun fire and although successful, 2nd Lieutenant B.T.W. Davenport and 11 other ranks were killed that day, with Thomas being one of them. (Details courtesy of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum, Norwich.)
Thomas is buried in the Ramleh War Cemetery (G 65) alongside his fellow soldiers. May he rest there in peace.
Acknowledgments
Jean Handley
