Add New Content


Please log in or register to add new content.

Login

Report Inaccuracies


Adam Ward (1889-1916)


Hetton born man served with 10 DLI mortally injured at Delville Wood


Submitted by a member of the public:

This is resume about Adam Ward, my great uncle who went to war, and unfortunately had a short war, paying the ultimate sacrifice for King and country.

Born March 1889 in Hetton, County Durham, the 1911 Census has him living in Murton Colliery with his parents, five brothers and one sister (my grandmother), his occupation is given as a coal worker/ coal hewer.

At the beginning 1914, he married his wife, Annie, at Murton Roman Catholic Church, and in December of that year they had a daughter, Mary.

With the war in its second year, he enlisted on 10 December 1915, into the 4th Battallion Durham Light Infantry, part of Tyne Garrison based at Seaham.

In April 1916 following his medical, he was declared fit for general service and warned of active service abroad, and then he received his overseas vaccinations.

Given leave towards end of July, he arrived back at camp a day late, and was sentenced to forfeit one day’s pay.

He embarked from Folkstone on 4th August, arriving in Boulogne on 5th August. During the 5th August he was posted to the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (14th Division/ 43rd Brigade) who at the time were on their way to the Somme.

After a period of time at Etaples Camp, he met up on 22 August with the 10th who were now in Fricourt, recovering after being in the line in Delville Wood. On 24 August, the 10th received orders to go back into Delville Wood to attack German trenches aimed at finally clearing the Germans from the Wood.

The 10th went back into the line on the 25th August and pressed home successful attacks on the trenches. Orders were received that they would be relieved by midnight of 28th, but relief was not complete until 5.00am on the 29th. Records show that Private Adam Ward was severely wounded on 29 August, presumably during the relief.

On 1st September, he was admitted into Stationary Hospital No 11, Rouen with gunshot wounds to left wrist (amputated), left leg and right knee. Telegrams were sent to his wife notifying of him being seriously ill from his wounds and advised visiting. Plans were put into place for his Annie, his wife to visit him in France but sadly, before she arrived in France, he passed away on 7 September.

Private Adam Ward was buried in Saint Severs Cemetery, Rouen. Row B23, Plot 21 and his name is on the Murton Village War Memorial.

One hundred years to the dates, 29 August and 7 September, commemorative wreaths were laid in Delville Wood in the area where the 10th Durham Light Infantry had attacked the German trenches, and at his grave in Saint Severs Cemetery.

Civil Parish: East Murton

Birth date: 1889

Death date: 07-Sep-1916

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Hetton (birthplace)
32 Sea View, Murton Colliery (1901 census)
18 Pilgrim Street, Murton (1911 census)
20 Model Street, Murton (CWGC)

Employment: Coal hewer (1911 census)

Family: Parents: Philip Ward, Annie Ward
Siblings: Mary Ann Ward, Peter Ward, Philip Ward, James Ward, William Ward, Patrick Ward
Wife: Annie Ward (CWGC), married 10 January 1914, Murton Roman Catholic Church (Durham County Record Office, RC/Mu 1/3)
Daughter: Mary Ward, born 6 December 1914

Military service:

Private
10th Durham Light Infantry
No 37148

Gender: Male

Contributed by Gerry, Houghton-le-Spring

Comments on this story


Comment

There are no comments on this story yet.