| Notes: | CMP. He was awarded the 1915 Star, Victory and War Medals, first served abroad (1) France, 28/11/1914 He enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment age 14, transferred to the Machine Gun Corps No. 124619, returned to the North Staffordshire Regiment No. 69603 and post 1920 No. 5041215, transferred to CMP.
Extract from the Burton Observer and Chronicle 3/12/1953.
MT T WARD, TUTBURY, A Life-Time of Army Service.
A popular figure has been removed from the village by the death in Burton Infirmary of Mr. Thomas Ward of 18, Castle Street, Tutbury after a long illness.
Mr Ward, who was 61 years of age had been connected with the Army during the whole of his life, being the son of a regular soldier. He was born near Belfast, when his father was serving with the 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, 92nd which was stationed there. After service in the South African Campaign, the regiment was posted to India, where Mr Ward accompanied his parents in 1906. At the age of 14 he joined the same regiment as a band boy, along with his brother Sam a year his senior. he serve for 12 years on the North West Frontier of India and saw active service there in 1808 and 1919. When he and his comrades twice went through the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan. 10 miles pas the last British outpost, he was awarded the medal and clasp. he was stationed at Quetta during the great earthquake there.
He also gained three war medals for service during the First World War. About 1921 he joined the Machine Gun Corps and again saw service on the Frontier and later was transferred to the Corps of Military Police and made full Corporal. He remained with them until his discharge after 24 years Army service. The combined military service of Mr Ward and his father and brother was about 75 years. |
