Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick Orton Ward, a boot maker, born 1857 in Medbourne, Leicestershire and his wife Phoebe Rose Ann Ward (nee Driver, married in the 1st quarter of 1878 in the Uppingham, Rutland district), a tobacconist and confectioner, born 1860 in Medbourne. Frank was born in the 4th quarter of 1891 in Ashley, Northamptonshire, his siblings were, Ernest Harold, born in the 1st quarter of 1888 in Medbourne and William, born 1890 in Ashley, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Medbourne. In April 1911 Frank was employed as a general farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Medbourne, together with his father, a boot maker, his mother and brother William, a pedlar. His elder brother Ernest Harold fell in action in July 1917.
The FRANCE (1914-1918) MEMORIAL commemorates Commonwealth casualties who died in France during the First World War but for whom no graves could be found. Please note: The men and women remembered here are presently commemorated solely by their database record and register entry. The register is maintained at the Commission’s Head Office, Maidenhead, until such time as a permanent memorial is built. Frank, in now listed for commemoration, and will be recorded on the permanent memorial once a site has been identified for its location.
Frank attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours) on the 15th September 1914 in Market Harborough. He gave his place of birth as Ashley, Northamptonshire, his age as 22 years and 93 days and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his brother William Ward of Medbourne, near Market Harborough as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9 inches in height, weighed 140 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 36 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had brown eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 15th September 1914 in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 15274 on the 17/9/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 24/9/14. Posted to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 17/8/15. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 27/8/15. Killed in action, place not stated between the 14-17/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 15/9/14 – 26/8/15, 346 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 27/8/15 – 17/7/16, 326 days. Total service, 1 year 307 days. Frank was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Frank’s mother Phoebe Rose Ward on the 13th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by J. K. B. Nevinson, Clerk in Holy Orders, Medbourne Rectory, Market Harborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Mother of soldier, Phoebe Rose Ward of Medbourne, Market Harborough. Full blood brother of soldier, William Ward, age 29 of Medbourne, Market Harborough. Full blood sister’s of soldier, Ethel Mary Cole, age 42 of 11, Strathcona Road, Wavertree, Liverpool and Rose Ann Ward, age 26 of Medbourne, Market Harborough. Frank’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary entries relating to the events from the 14th to the 17th July 1916 records the following. FRICOURT. The 110th Brigade attacked and captured BAZENTIN – LE – PETIT WOOD and village and held same. Appendix I. The action attached.
Narrative of action of the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment from 3.00am 14/7/16 to 8.00am 17/7/16.
The Battalion moved from FRICOURT WOOD via the southern and eastern edge of MAMETZ WOOD and reached the north east corner of this wood just before 3.00am. The Battalion was formed in four lines by 3.15am under a fairly heavy bombardment and lined up with the 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on its left about 100 yards in front of MAMETZ WOOD. At 3.25am 1st and 2nd lines advanced on German first line, and five minutes later the third and fourth lines advanced, and, crossing first line, assaulted and took the German second line. The first German line was very much knocked about and some 25 or 30 prisoners were taken in it. The right Company blocked German first line trench on right of the attack, and also the same in the German second line. While crossing “No man’s” land the barrage was not very severe but the two right Companies suffered a good many casualties from enemy machine guns in BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD, which had not then been cleared by 7th Division on our right. There were also two enemy machine guns in the south east corner of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. These were charged by the third and fourth lines and the detachments killed, and the guns taken. There were not a large number of Germans in second line when it was entered. The trenches had been so knocked about that it was difficult to consolidate them. At 4.00am first and second lines, leaving small parties to deal with any dugouts, advanced to German second line, which was also being consolidated by the third and fourth lines. At 4.20am three platoons remained in German second line, and the rest of the Battalion advanced to the “one hour” line, which was reached after suffering a good many casualties from enfilade fire from the direction of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD. Soon after this the enemy, retiring in front of the 7th Division from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD on our right, were enfiladed from the eastern edge of the wood by our Lewis guns, and suffered heavy losses. For some time the right Company had to form a defensive flank as many of the enemy were trying to get from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. At 5.20am the Battalion advanced to the “two hour” line and remained there till 6.00am, waiting for the 7th Division to come up on our right. At 6.00am the Battalion was reinforced by several platoons of the 9th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. At 6.05am the line advanced against the village, and, the left of the 7th Division not being up, the whole village was assaulted and taken, and 3 officers and 200 prisoners. At 6.40am the ROYAL IRISH RIFLES entered the village and the eastern portion was handed over to them. At 7.15am the Battalion occupied and began consolidating the line from the northern end of the village, thence southwards to the north eastern point of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD, thence along northern edge of wood halfway to the railway. An attempt to get the real objective was heavily enfiladed from a point just outside the wood near the railway. About 50 prisoners were taken in a trench along northern edge of wood. At 8.30am the enemy made a counter attack against the northern portion of village. The 7th Division who were not very strong here fell back on cemetery. The Battalion conformed and held northern edge of wood and the prolongation of same through the village. At 9.15am the 7th Division were reinforced and retook eastern portion of village, and the Battalion resumed its previous line, joining up with the 7th Division north of the village. At 3.00pm the enemy made another counter attack against northern and north eastern edge of village. Many of them reached the road running from north end of village to railway and were at once stopped by our rifle and Lewis gun fire. The Battalion held and consolidated this position on the night of the 14th and also on the 15th there was no change. At 2.00am on the 16th a party of one officer and 50 men were sent out to try to consolidate the original objective along the road. They were preceded by a party of one officer and 40 men of the YORKSHIRE REGT. The latter party got to the road and held it for some time while our party was trying to consolidate, but were heavily bombed and enfiladed from enemy post just outside wood near railway, and was forced to retire. On the night of the 16th the Battalion was relieved by the 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and the Battalion went into bivouac just south of FRICOURT WOOD, arriving there at 1.00am the 17th instant. The Battalion suffered the following casualties 7 officers killed and 20 wounded. 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.
War Diary entry Records: 16 Jul-16 - 6th Battalion right supported by 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on left supported by 8th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.
War Diary records: 17 Jul-16 - Battalion marched from FRICOURT WOOD at 7.45pm and arrived at RIBEMONT at 12.30am 18th July 1916.