Private William Francis Ward
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 6842
- Unit
- 16 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Mericourt, France
- Date of death
- 8 August 1918
- Age
- 27
- Plaque number
- L158A
- Co-located plaques
- L158 - FLGOFF Thomas Allanson
- Dedicated by
- Granddaughters on 15 February 2014
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private William Francis Ward was born at Gerladton, Western Australia in April 1891. He was one of two sons and four daughters of Francis and Elizabeth Ward of Geraldton.
His father, Francis, operated a blacksmith and wheelwright business in Fitzgerald Street.
William attended Geraldton state school and, after leaving, worked as a clerk with Burns Philp at Geraldton and was later transferred to their Adelaide office.
In May 1914, he married his wife Mona in Adelaide and their son, Frank was born in May 1915. He and his family then returned to Geraldton and resided in Gregory Street.
After he enlisted in June 1916, he trained at Blackboy Hill Military Camp and was posted to 22 Reinforcements of 16 Battalion.
They sailed from Fremantle on board HMAT Argyllshire in November 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England in January 1917.
He had further training with 4 training battalion at Codford and in April was transferred to 16 Battalion.
William was wounded in August and returned to England for treatment. After leaving hospital, he was transferred to 13 and 12 Training Battalions and then back to France with 16 Battalion in May 1918.
Private William Francis Ward, service number 6842 of 16 Battalion, was killed in action at Mericourt, France on 8 August 1918. He was 27 years of age.
Two of William’s cousins were also killed in action in World War 1. William’s son Frank served in 2/28 Battalion in World War 2, was a Rat of Tobruk and later served in New Guinea.
William's plaque is placed alongside that of a known relative through marriage, Flying Officer Thomas Allanson of 100 Squadron RAAF.