Harry Ward
Date of birth: 1917
Date of death: 28.8.1944
Area: Wrenthorpe
Regiment: Green Howards (Yorkshire)
Family information: Son of Mrs McTernan (previously Mrs Ward) and the late Charles Ward
Rank: Private
Service number: 4689141
War Service
Private Harry Ward was the son of Mrs McTernan (previously Mrs Ward) and the late Charles Ward according to the Wakefield Express. He was Private 4689141 of the Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment) 7th Battalion who died aged 27 on 28th August 1944. Tragically he was struck by lightning while serving abroad. The paper states that he lived at Lingwell Nook Lane, Outwood, but his mother and step father lived in Coronation Street, Wrenthorpe. The paper also mentioned that he had a brother Edmund who was serving in the Malta forces, a sister Mary and two step siblings.
The 7th Battalion of the Green Howards took part in the D Day landings on the morning of the 6th June 1944. They made their advance through France and unfortunately, on 28th August, Harry died in a freak accident. He is buried in the St Desir War Cemetery, Calvados, France. He had previously been buried at Chaufour-les-Benniers (sic) but was moved and reburied on 25th November 1946.
Family Life
Harry’s mother had been Annie Elizabeth Robertshaw until her marriage to Charles Ward at Westgate Common Church on 21st December 1912. Charles came from Horbury Road, while Annie was from 4, Snow Hill, Wrenthorpe. In 1917 Harry was born followed by Edmund in 1920, Charles in 1922 (although he died before his first birthday) and Mary in 1923. Sadly his father Charles died aged just 38 in 1924. In 1926 Annie married George McTernan.
In the 1939 Register George and Annie were living at 10, Coronation Street, Wrenthorpe and they had 6 children living with them, although as some are closed records it is impossible to say whether Harry was one of them.
St Desir War Cemetery Calvados
