Frederick James Ward

A Private with 1/6th Bn., Frederick died on 1st of October 1916 at the age of 22.

Frederick was born at Pakefield on 14 November 1893, a son of John Lambert and Ellen Ward. In 1901 Frederick's family lived at Pakefield Street, Pakefield. 

By 1907 Frederick's family were living at 126 Morton Road, Lowestoft. From 17 September 1907 Frederick attended Lowestoft School of Science. In 1911 Frederick was working at a junior clerk at a corn merchants. Later his parents lived at 4 Wycombe Terrace, Saint Georges Road, Lowestoft. 

On 1 October 1916 the 1/6th Battalion was involved in an attack to capture the village of Eaucourt-L'Abbaye. The War Diary for the 1/6th Battalion has:

At 1 a.m. summer time altered back to normal by putting clock back 1 hour, this is to 12 midnight. 2nd Lieutenant Yaldwyn (Sniping Officer) attached to Y Company for duty.  Commanding Officer saw all Company Commanders at 3am to talk over details of the attack.  Completed jumping off trenches about dawn and occupied them in battle order by 6am.  60 men (draft and details) brought up from the Transport Lines to act as Carrying Party for the battalion.  Artillery bombardment of German trenches from 7am to 3.15pm. 2 Lieutenant Yaldwyn wounded about noon.  The Commanding Officer Major Wilkinson wounded about 1.30pm.  Lt. Colonel Bradford of the 9th Durham L.I. took over command of the Battalion for the period of the operations.

3.15pm Assault delivered. 1st objective gained - on the left later on the right also. 2nd Lieutenants - Cotching, Barnett & Appleby wounded.

Considerable amount of hostile Machine Gun fire from the right during the attack.  German trenches not much damaged by Artillery fire.  Block established on the right as troops on the right had not obtained their objective.  1 Company of the Durham L.I. sent up to re-inforce.  About midnight 2nd objective was gained by combined assault.

German bombing attack on our 2nd line right repulsed in the early morning.  Fairly quiet day but wet.  During the night of the 2/3rd 6 Durham L.I. and 9 Durham L.I. relieved by 7 Northumberland Fusiliers. Relief completed about 4.30am.  Lt. Colonel Bradford ceased to be in command and Lieutenant Ebworth assumed command of the battalion.  

Casualties: one officer and 48 other ranks killed, including Frederick; one man died of wounds. The number of men wounded not known. For his gallantry and leadership on that day Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford was awarded the Victoria Cross. 

Frederick's brother, Albert, served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1915 in the loss of H.M. Trawler Briton.