(1)                                 
                                           R.A.M.C

                The life of Frank Ward.
A Stretcher Bearer on the Western Front
This site is compiled from Diaries, Letters, and Post Cards, written by my father while serving in the RAMC during the Great War.
                    Ken Ward  

        

(2)
Introduction
My father, Frank Ward was born
on the 27th October 1892,
at 53 Wood St ,Willenham (was then a small town situated
near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire) to Sarah and William
Ward who was a rim locksmith by profession. Frank had two
older sisters, Florence and Ada and two brothers, Frederick
and Albert. Frank attended the 'St Giles School'.
the Ward family worshipped at St Giles Church.Willenhall
in the period leading up to the outbreak of World War 1.
The Rev.Arthur Pratt was Vicar of St Giles at this time and

would known Frank well.

Another family that Worshipped at St Giles were the Southalls.
John Caleb Southall was a night latch maker and lived with his
wife Sarah and daughters Ethel and Edith and sons Jack and Sidney.
John Caleb had lived as a child at 50 Wood St (very close to the Ward
family).
I am most grateful to my niece, Kathryn and her husband Gerald Lambert
for transcribing the diaries letters and post cards.
Ken Ward (Franks son)

(3) Census 1891.Southall and Ward Family ( Senior).

(3)From this 1891 Census it shows the Southall family (senior) were living at No 50 Wood St Willenhall and the Ward family (senior) living at No 53 Wood St
The Frank that is mentioned in the Census aged six months died in his first year. The next born a son in1892 was also named Frank.
The Census of 1891 was taken before the birth of Frank Ward (the second) or Ethel Southall , they were born in the years 1892 and 1894 respectively

(4) 1901 Census Ward Family

(5) 1901Census Southall Family

The two 1901 Census Forms show that Frank was 8 years of age and Ethel 6 years of age

Frank Joins the RAMC TA

22nd May 1912 Frank Ward and his friend David Appleby enlist in the TA

(6) Frank and David at TA Camp.

Frank on the right David on the left
The above photo was taken in this Country between the years 1912 and 1915

(6) 9 th August 1912, Ethel on Holiday in Blackpool

To continue and see back of card click OLDER POST

(7) Reverse side of Ethel's Blackpool Post Card to Frank

9th August 1912

(8) RAMC (TA) under canvas at Camp.

(9) Rev Pratt Vicar of St Giles Willenhall.

The vicar of St Giles Church later to become the chaplain to the regiment.

(10) Bell Ringing Plaque 1913

This plaque in St Giles commemorates the ringing of "Grandsire Triples"on the
12th August 1913.

The bell ringers included Frank, his elder brother Harry and Franks close friend David Appleby.
The vicar the Rev Pratt,both Frank and David would meet him some years later on the Western Front.

Ethel with her brothers and sister.

Ethel on the right with her sister Edith, together with brothers Sidney and Jack
Ethel's father John is kneeling on the right of the picture.
The team may well have a connection with St Giles Church

Frank's 21st Birthday 27 th October 1913

Ethel and Frank
This photo was taken on the occasion of Frank's 21st birthday,they had known each other since the two Families had been neighboures in Wood Street, Willenhall.

Outbreak of the Great War

War Declared

4th August 1914.
Frank and David are Mobilized
When the war was declared all TA volunteers were ordered to report to the Wolverhampton Drill Hall for mobilization.

Frank's Letter 4th August 1914.

76 Wood Street 4/8/14

Willenhall

My Dear Ethel

I thought that when I wrote to tell you I had returned to the above address tonight it would be a surprise but when I arrived home this Tuesday night at 8 o’clock and saw your post card, I found out you were awake to the situation. Well we dispersed at the drill hall after walking 34 miles towards Rhyl, and walking that distance back home, 21 miles today.

It is a disappointing time for me I can tell you, building my castles in the air for a week or so, as to what a good time we were going to have at Rhyl, a time we had never had before. We left drill hall on the order that we were not to go far from home, and when going out to leave word, where going so that we could easily be found, as they expected us to be called out at any minute. We had been in Willenhall half hour tonight, after being told the former order, and there has been a notice placed outside the drill hall and police station to the effect that we must parade at headquarters immediately.

Me and David went to Willenhall drill hall at 9 tonight to see what we were to do, and we have got to be at Wolverhampton drill hall at 8 in the morning to be dispatched out, all Terriers will be sent off tomorrow at that hour, to be sent to different places. I do not know where I shall be when you receive this letter. Ethel do not worry, and then I shall be alright and happy there's a love, there is nothing to worry about as they cannot send me out of the country. David is in a very worried state over the affair, his people have been worrying him, they think he will be shot, such nonsense, he hasn’t half been crying at home tonight before he came out to see me, he would not worry if his people would leave him alone, he was happy enough when I left him at the cars when we came from Wolverhampton until he went home, they worried the life out of him, he would not speak a word to me, and his eyes were swollen up, and he does look ill. I never saw him so worried in my life, I have tried to buck him up.

He says when we get out he shall not worry so much, as his mother is the cause of most of it and then he says there is Florrie he wishes she was here, so that he could see her before he goes, well I told him what about me, no chap in the army wishes he had got his sweetheart by his side anymore than I do tonight, I could love you away. Ethel, if the worst comes you will be tested, my words to you are stand fast by my side, in hearts your love I am sure will increase, I am sure, if we are apart a while. Write to my home immediately you get this letter, and chance where I am, and I will do same as soon as I get the chance. Finally we love one another dearly and we shall stand fast, and I will make it out when we meet, it has had to be rushed. Hoping to see you at end of week, I must think I shall see you then or I should die.

Your loving boy

Believe me Dear

Frank

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Frank's Letter 14th August 1914.

14/8/14 (written on the paper of YMCA, Burton on Trent)

3rd NMFA, B Section

RAMC

Christ Church Schools

Uxbridge Street

Burton

Dear Ethel

We are now stationed at Burton, and you have my present address until I should let you know different.

Burton is not so bad, we arrived here this Wednesday afternoon and we are staying at schools. Hope this letter will find you well and much brighter. Sorry I had to rush by you in such a manner, hope your mother did not think anything, did not have a chance to speak to her. Well Ethel I feel very lonely without you, I am afraid I shall have to try and get used to it. I was told today I should be a lucky chap if I had my xmas day at Willenhall. Well I hope long before then things will arrive at a peaceful end, it depends a lot on the big battle now raging. I suppose Ethel you feel very strange knowing that you may not see me for some time. Still we have strong faith in one another now. I have more in you now than ever I had, when I was always with you. But it is so, and it takes a lot of worry off ones mind when they know they can trust their own dear Sweetheart in their own absence from her, it being perhaps a long stay from one another yet she will be faithful.

You are loved by my whole heart and soul, ever I shall think of you in our absence from one another, and am confident of the same returns from you. Hope dear Ethel you are not fretting because of me, knowing we love each other from the depth of each heart will bring along happiness which will take away part of the former sorrow, both looking forward to a speedy meeting, having good courage in one another at all times, and in what part I may be forced to serve. Pleased am I that you were so proud of me when in the field at Bentley, in spite of all being in the field, you had hopes of getting a last kiss for a time. Florrie Ash will not have courage like that if she goes with David years, sticking by my side as long as you could being with me until I left the district, all that put more love, faith, courage, and made my heart glad with my loving Ethel.

Do you wish me to write all letters to Market Place, expect you do. Hope you get them all, if Federation get hold of them will they always give you letters if you are not in. Let me know all this in your letter which I shall be waiting every post now you have my address. Excuse spelling and writing if there be mistakes because I am writing in such a hurry. Goodnight my Loving Darling.

I am XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXX and shall always

XXXXXX remain your loving & Faithful Boy

XXXXXX Frank

XXXXXX think they are all real

Departure of Batt S Staff Reg 11th August 1914

This Post Card dated 22 nd August .1914 was written some 18 days after the declaration war.
It was sent from Ethel to Frank who then was stationed at Charles St Boys School Luton.
The card shows South Staffs Regiment assembled in Queen Square Walsall in readiness for the departure.
At the time of writing Ethel was working with her father in his picture framing shop at Willenhall. She remarks that the business was quiet although her father worked that evening until 11pm.

24-8-14 St Giles Church.

Interior of St Giles Church.
Frank receives this card from his Uncle John.

Frank's Letter 5th August 1914.

Frank's letter of some ten pages long was written over a period of days,these are the first two pages




Harry Pearson

Harry Pearson will marry Frank's elder sister Ada later in the War.

In 1914 he takes a lead from Frank by enlisting in the RAMC

8th September 1914 Bromyard Post Card.

Ada one of Frank's elder sisters writes this card to Ethel on the 8th September 1914.
She says having a grand time and grand weather and a very beautiful place (Bromyard)
At that time their ages were Ada 25 years and Ethel 20 years

15th September 1914 Frank's card to Sidney,Ethel's four year brother

1914 October

Ethel sends this card to Frank .
The year 1914 is clear on the postmark the month not visible.He was then billeted at
C/O MrJames
54 Warwick Rd
Bishop's Stortford

I'm Thinking of You from Willenham 9th October 1914.

Card from Ethel to Frank 9th October 1914

5 September 1914

(Written on the notepaper of the YMCA)

9 Hartley Road

Luton

Beds

5/9/14

My Dearest Ethel

I received your letter this Friday morning, and I now tell you I signed to go to any part of the world, where they may choose to send me. David has also signed to that effect, the officers came just as we come in at 10 o'clock last night to get our signatures and we read the paper and said we would think it over and we would not sign last night, so they came in again before 7 o'clock this morning as they had got to know every bodies decision by 8 o'clock, so we signed. All those in our corps under nineteen could not sign as they are not allowed to go out of the country at that age, and they will I expect in a very short time return to W'hampton, also those of age who declined to sign, but will be detained at some place or other same as us before we left W'hampton since our mobilization. Well Darling you may think I have done a wrong thing, as if I had not signed you would have been able to come up to W'hampton to me, and me to you at W'hall, that would have been grand looking at it from our point of view, and only considering ourselves, but my conscience under the present situation would not allow me to do so, there is a few W'hall chaps who would not sign, but I was ruled by a mind of my own and was not lead by others, the Major when I was putting things to him before signing, said those men who refused to sign and returned to W'hampton would not have a very good time, and would be worse off than us who went away, so Darling if you will sit down and think for a few minutes you will see it was a trying time for me to decide which course to follow, finally on this decision, I hope with all my heart the course I have taken will meet your approval, and that I have done a right thing before your eyesight, and if I had not signed I should have been ashamed to return to W'hampton with that hanging over my head, Darling Ethel I have found out at a time like this, you have to be willing to sacrifice your loved ones for a time and try and rest yourself with the assurance that you will be together again soon, and in our absence from one another shall be guarded over by our Creator, and also that at our meeting again, our absence will have put that love in our minds, which will not depart in our lifetimes, and would not have matured had it not been for our absence, at England's call, and which I hope and am certain at a future time, will give you a greater confidence in me your lover, that is all Darling I can say on that course, hoping me signing my name to that paper will never turn out to be a course of me losing my Darling, through being absent from her too long a period. I met Mr Pratt at 9.30 last night when I was going home he was conversing with some of the head Officers of the Staffords and he saw me passing, and he called me and said he wanted to see me he called me Frank Ward so I waited until he had finished his conversation, and then he came up to me, and in our conversation he said I looked better than he had ever seen me. Ethel you seem to think I am really homesick, well I am only subject to that complaint when our love affairs do not go well as if I were at home I could in a short time put things right when our affairs go wrong. Well Ethel I shall be very thankful to receive that sleeping helmet, and would be very glad to wear it. You still seem to worry about me in reference, to me having plenty of good solid food. I tell you Ethel truthfully that I am going short of nothing, when butter does go short me and David get our share and do not go without it, Deakin is one of those slow sort of chaps, he is not in our section he is in A. I am all right in that respect, or else I should be the first to tell you.

You ask me Ethel if in my absence from England should I be able to write you, well if we were at the front they have printed letters they serve us out with, like this printed questions on, all you are allowed to do is strike out questions which you do not want you are not allowed to write anything at all simply cross out what is not needed.

This is a similar copy of original.

1 I am well

2 I am wounded and expect to return home

3 I expect to be sent back to the base

signed F Ward

Well you see Ethel if I was alright I should have to strike out last two questions, if I was wounded strike out first and third, and if sent back to rear of army strike first two questions and sign your name, but if you dared to write anything on the letter, it would be destroyed, as you are only allowed to strike out questions not required.

But as far as other countries go, outside seat of war, I cannot say whether they would let us write how we liked, but it would not be wise for the war officials to allow soldiers at seat of war to write letters, although it seems very hard. The Children at W'hampton Orphanage have subscribed over £4-0-0 to the soldiers who are away from home, and the Matron said she respected W'hampton R.A.M.C., and she wished the money to go to our corps, so with part of it she has made a great number of lovely bandages to be used on wounded and also a large number of pairs socks, and then with the remainder sent us a lot of chocolates which Dr Dent gave us this Saturday morning. Well sweetheart I commenced this letter last night Friday with the intention of you getting it this morning but I missed the post, and so I brought it back again as with the W'hall address on it would be Monday before you received it, as with sending it to Walsall you will certainly this week receive it on Sunday.

In beginning part of my letter I said all those who were not of age, to go out of country, and also those of age who declined to sign were going to be sent back to W'hampton well they have sent them sooner than we expected the train left Luton at 10.15 this morning there is about five W'hall chaps returning 3 have declined to sign and 2 under age perhaps when you receive this letter you will have heard of their return and also a lot of 6^th South Battalion, some of

of W'hall lot, let me know who has returned, as I am told Jack Forrester has not signed Francis Jones boy, I believe it to be right. I received your P.C. last night I did not think it possible for it to reach here same day as posted, thanks very much for sending it, as we are nearly 90 miles from W'hall.

Ethel I am sending you another money order of 7/6 to save for me, I want to try and pull up all money I have drawn out of my bank book while out of work, you see I was out about 8 weeks and paid Mother her money all the weeks then started for Royal London and paid my money the week before camp then money I paid down and money I paid Mother and also what I spent while out of work comes to nearly £10-0-0, which is a lot of money, I am also enclosing money note for 1/6 for yourself for some chocolates. Well lovie before sending us away they ought to give us 2 days leave, as the Officers have had a good few days now and then, well if they do not give us any leave, I must see you before going away some how or other.

I should think there is cheap bookings for weekends for Joe Fletcher's girl came last Saturday and went back Monday morning, if it was not for his swank I would have asked him how much the fare for a weekend was but I never bother with him for he is very disagreeable and full of vain pride, so I don't speak to him, his girl spoke to me not as I wanted her to. The wife of a W'hall chap named Price came last Saturday with the child and went back today, and there was a lot of sweethearts come from W'hampton today either for a day or weekend until Monday, to see their boys in our corps. I wish you could get to know how much fare is for a weekend, as trade is quiet I expect perhaps your Dad would let you come, as a day you might not see me much as maybe out on a big march. We could have a good night or two together we should love one another I can tell you, we would have a lovely time I can tell you especially if you were not you know, I know you would let me tell me in next letter it would make it so lovely and loving to look forward to.

Well my little Darling I must bring my small letter to a close, looking forward to having a letter from you in the morning Sunday. I am, and Shall Always Remain

your Lover and Loving you Always Frank

High Street Newport 23rd December 1914

23-12-1914 Card to Ethel Frank is now billeted at Church St Saffron Walden

To see back of post card, Click OldER POST

With Love to my Sweetheart.

Ethel is asking Frank "Will you be able to come home for Christmas"

January 1915 Commencement of Diary

Frank Commences his diary.

January 1915.

Frank Ward

76 Wood Street

Willenhall

Staffs

Memoranda page 1

Iron Tank

108 gallons

1 clarifying chamber

1 Filtering ditto

1 Swan neck tube

with candle

Memoranda page 2

If captured by the enemy, name and not rank

you must not inform anyone information

Beware of spies, hold no conversation with any strangers

Do not state in pay book your destination

all ranks must try to rejoin if detached

all men must salute allied officers.

January 1915

1 Friday

Home. Free pass.

Pancras Euston.

2 Saturday

Home.

3 Sunday

Home.

Holy Communion.

Spent Sunday with Ethel.

4 Monday

Returned to Newport 12 o’clock.

New boots issued.

Medically examined.

5 Tuesday

March out 9 miles.

6 Wednesday

March out 10 miles.

7 Thursday

Wet morning; Kit Inspection.

Afternoon 6 miles march.

8 Friday

March 14 miles.

9 Saturday

On duty at Headquarters.

Crown House.

RAMC play 5th North Staffs.

1st round of cup 1-1.

10 Sunday

Church parade, at the parish Church 11 o’clock.

11 Monday

Route march through Debden, Thaxted, Henham.

22 miles.

12 Tuesday

March through Walden.

9 miles.

13 Wednesday

Kit inspection.

Company Drill.

Afternoon Stretcher Drill.

14 Thursday

Stretcher Drill & collecting wounded in front of Grammar school. March to Walden, on afternoon to football match. RAMC lost.

15 Friday

March to Audley End house.

4 miles and Company Drill.

16 Saturday

Exercises & Company Drill & running in front of Grammar School.

17 Sunday

Church Parade.

At parish church.

18 Monday

Exercises & running & Company Drill & march 9 miles.

Aft. Stretcher Drill.

19 Tuesday

2 miles march.

Stretcher Drill and Wagon Drill & collection of wounded.

Aft. 5 mile march.

20 Wednesday

March 12 miles.

Aft. Lecture.

Boyd on Wounds of the present War.

21 Thursday

March 9 miles.

Aft. Lecture by Major Hodder on muscles of the stomach.

22 Friday

Morning wet.

23 Saturday

March 5 miles & boot inspection.

(Mem: 22nd wrote to Canada)

24 Sunday

Church parade.

Aft. Quendon, walk 16 miles.

25 Monday

March 12 miles.

Aft. Lecture: Major Stidston

26 Tuesday

March out 14 miles.

Aft. Lecture on The Blood: Major Hodder.

27 Wednesday

Day off.

28 Thursday

Parade 7.15 Com Drill.

March 12 miles.

29 Friday

Parade 7.15 Com Drill.

Stretcher Drill.

Kit inspection.

30 Saturday

Pitching tents.

31 Sunday

Church parade.

Aft. Walk Quendon 6 miles.