John Henry Ward
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown 1868 |
| 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 ; 140 lbs 63.503 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 War Memorial (South panel) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
On 21 Oct 1896 John married Martha Eliza Chipper (1876-1951) in Perth. Electoral Roll entries -1903 - 1906 farmer in Kelmscott; 1910 - 1917 market gardener. Miner given as occupation on enlistment.
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 along with 167 other tunnellers. Intermediate stops for the voyage were Colon in Panama 2 Sep 1917, and Halifax Nova Scotia, 18 Sep 1917. On arrival in Liverpool on 2 October they entrained for Tidworth in the south where they undertook specialist training. John spent a month training before proceeding overseas to France from Southampton on 4 Nov 1917.
On 24 Nov 1917 John was taken on strength by the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, but on 13 Dec 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Anzac Corps Depot. John suffered chronic bronchitis and was seen by the 7th Field Ambulance on 17 Dec 1917. They held him until 23 Dec 1917 when was assessed by the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station who transferred him to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station where he spent Christmas and Boxing Days before being admitted to 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 on 14 Jan 1918, John was released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield where the combination of being over age and suffering with bronchitis resulted ultimately in him being sent home. Granted furlough from 18 Jan 1918 until 1 Feb 1918, he was then discharged to the No.2 Command Depot on 18 Jan 1918. It took almost another five months before he was placed aboard a ship for home. His Medical discharge was 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.
External Links
For further details relating to the 3rd Tunnelling Company, visit their website [1]