WILLIAM HARRY WARD
Born: 1894, Ipswich.
Died: 3rd March 1915; age 20; as a result of revolver shot at Hammersmith West London Hospital.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 1160.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 6th Battalion – Cyclists.
Grave Reference:
Q.19.6.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of William & Mary Ward, of 111, Foxhall Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 38, Hervey Street, Ipswich.
William was 6 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
William Ward, 38, a Master Mariner, born Pin Mill, Suffolk.
Mary Ward (nee Hines), 41, born Chelmondiston, Suffolk.
Aubrey Donald Ward, 11, born Ipswich.
Dorothy Lydia Ward, 8, born Ipswich.
1911 111, Foxhall Road, Ipswich.
William was 16 years old, a Ship Wright – Boat Builder – Ship Building. He was living with his mother & siblings.
Mary, 52.
Aubrey, 21, an Engineer’s Inspector – General Engineering.
Dorothy, 18, a Dressmaker – Draphery Business.
In 1911, William’s father, William, a Master Mariner was away from home at Griffins Wharf, Blackwall, Ipswich on his Ketch Barge ‘Mazeppa’ of Harwich.
Soldiers’ Effects to William Ward – father.
Framlingham Weekly News – Saturday, 13th March 1915 – SUICIDE IN SWEETHEART’S PRESENCE – A soldier who shot himself in his sweetheart’s presence was the subject of an inquest at Hammersmith on Saturday. The man was William Harry Ward, aged 20, a private in the 6th Suffolk Territorial Regiment, of Foxhall Road, Ipswich.
Bessie Snell said she was engaged to William, who on Tuesday came to Batoum Gardens, Shepherd’s Bush, to stay with her and her sister for a short holiday. He had several times asked her to marry him, but she had refused, as she did not think he could afford to keep her.
After breakfast on Wednesday he went upstairs and returned with a revolver, and smilingly said to her “yes or no.” She replied “No,” and he immediately shot himself in the right temple. A few minutes before he had asked Bessie to marry him, but she had declined. William died at the West London Hospital the same day.
An open verdict was returned.
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