John Henry Ward
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| Place of Birth | Tenterfield, New South Wales |
| Death | 25 Oct 1929 |
| Place of Death | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 49 years old |
| Description | 5' 8" (1.73m) tall; weight 140 lbs (63.5 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair. |
| Occupation | miner |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 'Sea View Orchard',Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Martha Eliza Ward |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 7725 |
| Date of Enlistment | 3 Apr 1917 |
| Rank | Sapper |
| Unit/Formation | Tunnelling Company, April 1917 Reinforcements transferred to 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Date of Embarkation | 8 Aug 1917 - 2 Oct 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A68 Anchises |
| Date of Return | 17 Jun 1918 - 8 Aug 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Mahana |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (medical) |
| Monument | Kelmscott |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
In 1896 John married Martha Eliza Chipper in Perth. Electoral Roll entries -1903 - 1906 farmer in Kelmscott; 1910 - 1917 market gardener
War Service
Soon after entering camp John was allocated to the reinforcement draft for the Tunnelling Companies. Perhaps at this point he was transferred to Sydney as it was in Sydney that he embarked for England.
On arrival in England, John was sent to Parkhouse Camp for a month before proceeding overseas to France from Southampton on 4 Nov 1917.
Within a month of arriving in France John suffered chronic bronchitis and was hospitalised (17 Dec 1917), initially in the 26th General Hospital in Étaples. On 31 Dec 1917 John was evacuated to England aboard the HS Ville de Liege for medical treatment and was admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton.
A fortnight later John was released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield where the combination of being over age and suffering with bronchitis resulted in him being sent home.
Medical discharge granted on 4 Sep 1918.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1928 he had returned to market gardening in Kelmscott. Martha remained in Kelmscott until about 1943. 1943 - 1949 Martha was at 5 Clive road Maylands, and she died on 1 Apr 1951 in Mt Lawley aged 82. No children found.
"WARD.-The friends of the late Mr. John Henry Ward, Orchardist; of Kelmscott, formally of the 3rd Tunnellers, AIF, are respectfully informed that his remains will be interred In the Church of England portion of the Karrakatta Cemetery at 2.25 o'clock TO-MORROW (Monday) AFTERNOON. The Cortege will move from Messrs. Donald J. Chipper and Son's Funeral Home, Hay-street (corner George-Street). Perth, at 2 o'clock. Friends wishing to attend the funeral may proceed by the 2:05 o'clock -train from Perth.[1]
References
- ↑ "Family Notices". Sunday Times (Perth) (1657). Western Australia. 27 October 1929. p. 2 (The Sunday Times.). Retrieved 25 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.