21963A
WARD, Thomas Henry
| Service Number: | 3121 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Alberton, South Australia, 17 November 1896 |
| Home Town: | Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Port Adelaide School |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Enfield, South Australia, 17 August 1976, aged 79 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Queenstown Alberton Public School Great War Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 3121, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 3121, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 3121 | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3121, 10th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Thomas Henry Ward, an Australian soldier who served in World War I, was born in South Australia in 1884.[6] Before the war, Thomas worked as a horse driver, a profession that required strength and resilience.[7] He lived in Alberton, South Australia, with his wife, Lucy Ward.[8] At the time of his enlistment, he was 31 years old and deeply connected to his Methodist faith, which played a key role in shaping his values of service and sacrifice.[9]
On 18 June 1915, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), marking the beginning of his military journey.[10] His embarkation took place a few months later, on 14 September 1915, when he boarded the HMAT A70 Ballarat in Adelaide, heading toward the battlefields of Europe.[11]
Thomas Henry Ward’s first destination was Egypt.[12] Like many ANZACs, Egypt served as a base for training and preparation before heading to the frontlines.[13] Upon arrival, he was stationed at Zeitoun, near Cairo, where Australian forces were undergoing intensive training to prepare for the brutal realities of trench warfare on the Western Front.[14]
Thomas’s first taste of military action came soon after his arrival in Egypt. He was assigned to the 10th Battalion and later transferred to the 50th Battalion on 29 February 1916, a unit formed from soldiers with experience in Gallipoli.[15] His first significant military action occurred when his Battalion was sent to defend the Suez Canal against a potential Ottoman attack.[16] Though the Ottoman forces were ultimately repelled, this was a significant experience for Thomas, who faced the harsh desert conditions and the reality of modern warfare for the first time. It was only the beginning of the demanding battles that would define his military service in World War I.
After his initial experience in Egypt, Thomas Henry Ward was soon recruited into the intense battles of the Western Front in France moving from Alexandria in Egypt to Marseilles in France arriving 12 June 1916. A month later he was taken on strength with the 4th Pioneer Battalion.
During 1917, Thomas faced several health challenges, including severe influenza and deafness, likely caused by the artillery's constant noise.[20] He was hospitalised in France from 8 March 1917 until he was discharged to convalesce at Depot on 16th March 1917. In April 1917 he was treated for scabies in France and remained with base details. His poor health continued and he was admitted to the 39th General Hospital in Havre in August. He was transferred to the Employment Company in November. His records again highlight his problems with hearing with Ward sick to hospital in March 1918. He was next sent to depot before returning to the 4th Pioneer Battalion in late April 1918
After being medically discharged in 1918 due to his worsening health, Thomas Henry Ward returned to Australia to rebuild his life arriving 28th January 1919.[25] He was formally discharged 18 April 1919.
(Source: NAA Service Record B2455)
Bibliography
AIF Project, Record from the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Project, detailing Thomas Henry Ward's enlistment information and service in World War I.
Australian War Memorial, Additional service details for Private Thomas Henry Ward.
Australian War Memorial, A reproduction of the First World War Embarkation Roll for Thomas Henry Ward.
National Archives of Australia, Attestation Paper of Thomas Henry Ward.
National Archives of Australia, Certificate of the Attesting Officer and the Oath taken by Thomas Henry Ward upon his enlistment into the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
National Archives of Australia, Medical Examination Certificate for Thomas Henry Ward.
National Archives of Australia, Medical record that details Thomas Henry Ward's hospitalisation.
National Archives of Australia, Official discharge of Private Thomas Henry Ward from military service.
National Archives of Australia, Service and Casualty Form.
National Archives of Australia, Statement of Service document.
National Archives of Australia, Casualty Form - Active Service.
National Archives of Australia, Detailed service record from the Australian Imperial Force for Private Thomas Henry Ward.
National Archives of Australia, Memorandum from the Base Records Office regarding the service records of Thomas Henry Ward.
National Archives of Australia, Record of the proceedings of a court martial held for Thomas Henry Ward.