Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Ward, a farmer, born 1869 in Quorn, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Ward (nee Cross, married in the 4th quarter of 1889 in the Leicester district), born 1869 in Quorn, and who was the daughter of Charles and Mary Cross of Quorn. Ernest William was born in the 3rd quarter of 1891 in Quorn, his siblings were, Eveline Norah M., born 1893 and Elizabeth Jessie, born 1895, both his siblings were born in Quorn, in March 1901 the family home was at The Wharf, Quorn. In April 1911 Ernest was serving with the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed in Aldershot.
Ernest attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) to serve a 6 year engagement on the 24th August 1908 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Quorndon, Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years 1 month, his trade or calling as labourer and he stated that he was unmarried. He confirmed that he was presently serving with “F” Company of the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, Territorial Force. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7½ inches in height and weighed 140 pounds. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army reserve on the 25th August 1908 in Leicester. He gave his mother, Elizabeth Ward of Narborough Asylum, his older brother John Charles Ward and his younger sister, Annie Ward, of Barrow Road, Quorn, Leicestershire, and his younger sisters, Eveline and Jessie Ward of Nottingham, as his next of kin. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Special Reserve) as a Private, service number 10031 on the 24/8/08. Commenced training on the 24/8/08. Discharged from the Special Reserve on the 24/11/08. Enlisted into the Regular Forces on the 24/11/08. Ernest attested into the Army on a Short Service (All Arms) engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 23rd November 1908 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Quorndon, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and 4 months and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was still serving with the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Special Reservist). He stated that he was unmarried and that he wished to enlist into the Leicestershire Regiment. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7 inches in height, weighed 136 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 35 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service on the 25th November 1908 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8562 on the 25/11/08 – 11/12/08. Posted to Shorncliff on the 12/12/08 – 4/1/10. Posted to Aldershot on the 5/1/10 – 27/9/12. Posted to Fermoy, Ireland on the 28/9/12 - -?-. The following information was provided by Ernest’s brother John Charles Ward on the 21st May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?-, a Clerk in Holy Orders of Quorn, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, dead. Mother of soldier, Elizabeth Ward of Narborough Asylum, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, John Charles Ward, age 29 c/o Mrs Flowers, -?-, Loughborough. Full blood sisters of soldier, Evelyn Ward, age 26 c/o Stanwell Park, Stanwell, Middlesex. Jessie Ward, age 24 c/o Stanwell Park, Stanwell, Middlesex. Annie Ward, age 22 c/o Mrs Wedge, 51, Paget Road, Leicester. Ernest’s surviving service documents are in a very 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 records: 25 Oct-14 - The Battalion had relieved the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 21st October at the Chemical Factory at Rue du Bois, the Germans had attempted to rush the trenches at dawn, but were beaten back with great loss, shelled intermittently all day. 2 Platoon of “D” Company were driven out by enfilade fire at about 9.00am, but retrieved the position by dusk, ordered to retire during night. Trench line was reinforced by 1 Company East Yorkshire Regiment and 2 Platoons of the Rifle Brigade during the day. “A” Company’s line was not seriously attacked. Casualties two Officers wounded, twenty two Other Ranks killed, sixty eight wounded and ninety eight missing. [Note] It has to be assumed that Ernest was one of the wounded recorded in this action, succumbing to his wounds two days later on the 27th October
On Saturday January 9th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOSSES IN THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.” – The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment are announced. – WOUNDED AND MISSING. Corporal E. W. Ward.
On Saturday June 5th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – Corporal E. W. Ward, 8562, Leicestershire Regiment, who was previously reported wounded and missing, is now according to an official list, reported died of wounds as a prisoner.