Ward, James
Regiment: King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
Rank: Private
Service No: 2294
Boer War service: 2 Dec 1899 to 16 May 1900
Date of enlistment: 11 Jan 1888 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Transferred to Army Reserve on 11 Jan 1895 and recalled on 13 Nov 1899.
Date of discharge: 31 Jan 1901
Reason for discharge: Termination of engagement
Other information: James served in India between 6 Dec 1889 and 13 Nov 1891
Born: 1869 in Whitchurch, Shropshire and baptised 19 July 1869 in St Alkmund’s Parish Church, Whitchurch.
Family: He was the elder of two children born to William Ward, a labourer in an ironworks and his wife Sarah. He also had two step brothers. He married Ellen Freeman in the spring of 1895 in Whitchurch. By 1901 the couple had three children, Reginald, Sydney and Roberta Mary; they went on to have four further children.
Residence: At the time of his baptism in 1869 he and his family were living in Rosemary Lane, Whitchurch but two years later his family had moved to Dodington. In 1881 their address was Alkington Road. On his Attestation documents his home address was given as Churton’s Yard, Bark Hill. By 1901 and now married he was living at 3 Fitzhugh Street, Southampton, Hampshire.
Employment: In 1888 his occupation was that of a baker. Seven years later he aspired to find employment as a railway porter.
Died: Not known
Other information: His son Sydney served in the RAF during WW2