William Leslie Ward

William Leslie Ward was born in 1897 the son of Herbert Joseph a lace warehouse man and Elizabeth Ward (née Lowe). His father was born in 1867 at Nottingham, his mother in 1868 at Sheffield. Married in 1889,they had nine children. Among William’s six surviving siblings were Henry Noel b.1895, Frances Doris b.1899, George Edward b.1903, Lilly May b.1906 and Mabel b.1909. In 1911 they lived at 8 Osborne Terrace Wallan Street Radford.

In 1911 he was a grocer's errand boy.

Driver William Leslie Ward, M.M., served with B Battery, 152nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery, he died of pneumonia at 51st Casualty Clearing Station on 7th December 1918. He is buried in Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension. His MM was Gazetted 23/2/1918

Obituary published 16th December 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “WARD. – On December 7th, in France, of pneumonia, Dvr. Leslie Ward, M.M., 25 Festus-street, aged 22. – Silently mourned by mother, father, brothers, and sisters. “WARD. – On December 7th, in France, of pneumonia, Dvr. Leslie Ward, M.M., Festus-street. – With deepest sympathy from his uncle George, aunt Mary, also cousin George. “WARD. – On December 7th, of pneumonia, in France, Dvr. Leslie Ward, M.M., R.F.A., aged 22, the dearly loved nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Willbond, 4 Ben-street. – Deeply mourned by aunt, uncle, and cousins.” In Memoriam published 7th December 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post : “WARD. – In loving memory of Driver Leslie Ward, M.M., R.F.A., died December 7th, 1918, of pneumonia, in France, after 3½ years' active service. Silently mourned. – From mother, father, brothers, sisters, and sisters-in-law.” Obituary and In Memoriam courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918