Ward, William

Lieutenant William Alfred Ward MC – 

32^nd Battalion AIF

William Alfred Ward was born in London England in 1882. He grew up in the London area and was also educated there. William gained some experience of military service when he served for three and a half years in the Royal Artillery. In the 1900’s William travelled with his parents to Western Australia. The family based themselves in Fremantle and William took up work in the north west of the state as a stockman. He soon moved to Broome and took up employment in the Pearling industry. In 1914 he married Agnes Wilson in Broome but they soon moved down south to Fremantle and took up residence at 210 Ellen St Fremantle.

On the 2^nd August 1915 William went to the Swan Barracks in Perth to enlist in the AIF. He was passed as fit by the medical examiner who listed William’s physical attributes as;

Height:                              5 feet 11 & ¼ inches;

Weight:                             181lbs;

Chest Measurement:         37-40 inches;

Complexion:                      Fair;

Eyes:                                Blue;

Hair:                                 Brown;

Religious Denomination:    Church of England;

Distinctive Marks:              Vaccination scars on left arm and abdomen, scar on neck

After being passed as fit William was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp was he was immediately assigned to “D” Company of the 32^nd Battalion AIF. Two companies of the 32^nd were being formed in South Australia, while the other two would come from WA. The WA section of the 32^nd Battalion trained at Blackboy Hill Camp for the next several weeks but they then received their embarkation orders. Arriving at Fremantle Harbour they boarded a troopship which took them to South Australia and so the 32^nd Battalion could now train as a full battalion. William had been promoted to Sergeant in the original 32^nd Battalion.

On the 18^th November 1915, Will and the 32^nd Battalion boarded the HMAT Geelong and set sail for Egypt, disembarking at Suez on the 18^th December 1915. The men would have been expecting to be sent on to Gallipoli, but with the news that the Dardanelles had been evacuated, the men settled in to their Egyptian base. The 32^nd Battalion were sent to the Ferry Post position on the Suez Canal defence line. For the first six months of 1916 the 32^nd Battalion would gain experience in holding the Suez Canal defence line and also undertake hard training in the desert. In March 1916 the 32^nd Battalion became part of the 5^th Division AIF.

On the 1^st June 1916 William was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major and he was at this rank when the 32^nd Battalion departed Egypt aboard the HMT Transylvania on the 17^th June 1916. The sea journey to France took six days and the men disembarked at Marseilles on the 23^rd June.

The 5^th Division were then entrained north where they relieved the 4^th Division AIF at Fleurbaix. The 32^nd Battalion did not get much front line experience before they were thrown into the disastrous Fromelles action on July 19^th. The 32^nd Battalion were the flanking unit of the 8^th Brigade and were torn to shreds by the German fire. Despite this they did manage to get into the German line but the Germans were able to encircle the men and those remaining had to fight their way back through the Germans or surrender. The casualties in the 32^nd Battalion were immense though fortunately William came through unscathed.

On the 9^th August 1916 he was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and ten days later he took on the role as adjutant. On the 2^nd September he was temporarily given the role of Battalion intelligence officer. The 5^th Division remained in the Fleurbaix sector through to October. The 5^th Division was then sent to the Somme region where they went into the line near Flers. The 32^nd Battalion was greeted with a wet, muddy and cold battlefield, as they held positions so dearly won by the British and Commonwealth forces. They were to remain in this sector through the 1916/17 French winter. In late February 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line and the 32^nd Battalion were involved around Bapaume.

William had now been promoted to Lieutenant and on the 5^th April 1917 he was sent for instruction to the 5^th Army sniping school, returning to his unit on the 18^th April. The 32^nd Battalion took part in the latter stages of the 2^nd Battle of Bullecourt, but in late May they were withdrawn from the line for a three month rest period. On the 26^th June William was granted five days leave in France, returning on the 1^st July. Later that month William was appointed Battalion intelligence officer. On the 13^th August William was sent to the 2^nd Army Summer rest camp, but returned on the 20^th August.

In September the Battalion moved to the front again to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. William’s role as Battalion intelligence officer would have kept him very busy during this time as they took part in the advance towards Passchendaele. He came through this time unscathed and on the 11^th October 1917 he went to England on leave. William returned a fortnight later on the 25^th October 1917.

The advance to Passchendaele had soon come to a halt in the sodden ground and through the 1917/18 winter the battalion held the line near Warneton in southern Belgium. William continued in his role as Battalion Intelligence Officer and his skills would have been put to the test while the expected German offensive was awaited. The German attack came on another front but it was a large success and they were making speedy headway. In late March the 3^rd and 4^th Australian Divisions were moved south to the Somme to stop this advance and they were soon followed in April 1918 by the 2^nd & 5^th Divisions.

William would have been very busy during the next few months as for his intelligence officer role he would have had to liaise with other battalions and divisional officers, in locating the Germans. Through April this would have been mainly while they were on a defensive footing though from May & June onwards the Battalion also took part in what was known as ‘peaceful penetration’ where small sections of German trenches were captured from the Germans.

The main operation for the 32^nd Battalion over these few months was in late July 1918 when the 32^nd Battalion captured a position known as the ‘Brick Beacon’ from the Germans. It was an important position that overlooked the Australian lines. As a large offensive was soon to take place from this sector it was vital that this position was captured. William would have had to provide intelligence prior to this advance and the attack was successful, with the 32^nd Battalion capturing the position.

On August 8^th 1918 William took part in the 8^th August advance when the 32^nd Battalion were in support for the 8^th Brigade operations in the Morcourt Valley. The Advance was mostly successful and it sent the Germans on a headlong retreat. Through August and September the Australians, Canadians and British relentlessly pushed the Germans back. The fluid situation proved a difficult time for intelligence officers like William as the German positions were not always known due to the Battalion’s swift advance. For his actions over an extended period William was recommended for a Military Cross. The citation read;

“During the operations from Fontaine Le Cappy to the River Somme on the 27/29^th August Lieutenant Ward displayed conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Throughout the advance of over 10 miles made by this Battalion, he gained much valuable information. As the intelligence officer he has at all times kept close touch with the front and made many reconnaissance’s of the enemy positions which proved of the utmost value in directing the advance. On the 28^th August when the Battalion was held up at Assevillers Lieutenant Ward made a personal reconnaissance of the front and his report enabled us to take the village in a very short time with practically no casualties and the capture of 18 prisoners. Throughout the day Lieutenant Ward was never out of touch with the retreating Boche, though often under heavy machine gun and artillery fire. On the following day, when in support of the 29^th Battalion, Lieutenant ward discovered that there was a gap between the 2^nd Division and the 29^th Battalion. He at once got into touch and himself assisted in filling the gap and making secure an otherwise precarious position. Throughout a period of over 80 hours this officer was continuously rendering valuable assistance to front line Companies. His devotion to duty and the cheerful manner in which he worked through a long sustained period were a fine example to all ranks and worthy of recognition.”

The Military Cross recommendation was ratified by Brigadier Tivey and Major General Hobbs though it would be a few months before the Military Cross was officially presented to Lt Ward. On the 17^th September William was granted some well deserved leave and he spent the next fortnight in England. This meant that William missed his battalion’s last action in the War in the Hindenburg Line.

William rejoined the 32^nd Battalion on the 7^th October 1918. He remained with his unit through their rest period and the Armistice was announced while the 32^nd Battalion was on their rest period.

William spent Christmas and New Year with his unit but on the 24^th January 1919 he was shipped to England. He was sent to No.4 Command Depot to await notice for his departure home to Australia, but on the 4^th February he became ill and was admitted to Sutton Veny Base Hospital and then transferred to No.1 AGH. Fortunately it wasn’t a serious illness and William returned to No.4 Command Depot Camp on the 10^th February 1919. William had to wait nearly two months for a passage home and on the 7^th April 1919 he boarded the HMT Trasosmontes and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 15^th May 1919.

Lieutenant William Ward MC was officially demobilised from the AIF on the 6^th July 1919.

During William’s absence away in the war his wife Agnes had moved for a time to Victoria, but they soon joined up in WA. The family would live in the Fremantle and Cottesloe Beach region for the next several years. In 1931 William was involved in an accident when he was knocked off his bicycle by a passing car, though fortunately while he was shaken he was unhurt. He did have to spend a few days at Fremantle hospital under observation.

William Ward died in Dalkeith WA on the 28^th April 1956 aged 73. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery, with his ashes being scattered over the gardens.