Frank George Ward

A Private with the 7th Battalion, Frank died on 23rd of July 1917 at the age of 22. 

Frank was born at Rushmere in 1894, a son of William and Martha Ward. He was baptised at Saint Michael’s Church, Rushmere, on 9 September 1894. In 1901 his family lived at Rectory Cottages, Rushmere. By 1911 they were living at 424 London Road South and Frank was a bootmaker’s apprentice.   

On 10 August 1916 Frank married Ivy Irene Shipp at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Frank was a Trooper with the Suffolk Yeomanry and Ivy lived at Arnold House, Sussex Road. Ivy was given away by her uncle, Mr. Aldous, of Colchester, as her father was in the Mediterranean serving as a Sub-Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the Hospital Ship Queen Alexandra. Ivy then lived at 115 Sussex Road, and other addresses in Lowestoft, including Frank’s family home, 424 London Road South, before moving to 2 Northgate Street, Beccles. On 10 April 1919 Ivy married James Barber and they moved to Canada and lived at 253, Grey Street, London, Ontario. 

Frank was living at 424 London Road South, and working as a barman and cellarman, when he attested for the Army, at Lowestoft, on 16 February 1916. He was called up on 4 March 1916 and joined the 3/1st Suffolk Yeomanry, service number 2541.

Frank arrived at Boulogne, France, on 27 August 1916 and the next day joined 15 Infantry Base Depot. Frank was transferred to the Suffolk Regiment, to join the 1/4th Battalion. He was then transferred to The Queen’s (Royal West Kent Regiment), service number G/18109. His service papers show him being transferred to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion and then being posted, while in France, to the 7th Battalion on 7 September 1916.

Frank was admitted to No 2 General Hospital with pyrexia of unknown origin and he was transferred to No 4 Convalescence Camp on 20 October 1916. He was then transferred to No 1 Convalescence Camp before joining the Base, at Etaples, on 13 November 1916. On 7 January 1917 Frank had to forfeit ten days pay for ‘making an improper reply to an N.C.O.’ On 30 April 1917 he joined the 7th Battalion in the field.        

On 23 July 1917 the 7th Battalion were in front line trenches near Zillebecke, Belgium. During the day the enemy laid an intense bombardment on the battalion’s positions which were badly damaged. Both high explosive and gas shells were used. Later in the day the battalion was relieved by the 19th Battalion Liverpool Regiment and heavy shelling took place during the relief.   

Frank was killed in action on 23 July. Frank’s personal effects, a metal watch, a chain, a silver match box, two dentures, one disc, letters, photos, a religious book, and a metal mirror were forwarded to Ivy. 

A note in the Lowestoft Journal, 13 October 1917, page 6, shows that Frank’s mother had been informed that Frank had been killed in action and that he was buried where he fell with a cross marking the grave.  

Correspondence in 1921, between the Imperial War Graves Commission and the Army, shows that enquiries were made as to where Frank’s body was buried, but no record from any Grave Registration Unit could be found and it seems that his grave was lost. 

Frank’s brother Ernest served with the Suffolk Regiment and died in 1918.