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WARD, Peter John
| Service Number: | 854 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 August 1914, at Morphettville |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, January 1892 |
| Home Town: | Pinnaroo, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Alberton, South Australia, Australia, 9 September 1942, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 854, 10th Infantry Battalion, at Morphettville | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 854, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 854, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 854, 10th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 21 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 854, 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW arm |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
LIFE BEFORE WAR:
Peter John Ward was an adventurous man from humble beginnings. In January 1982, he was born in Broken Hill New South Wales. Then, once he was 19 (1911), Peter and his family moved to the scrubland of Pinnaroo, Port Pirie, South Australia. While here, he assisted his father (Peter Ward) and mother (Bridget Ward) on the farm alongside his only sibling Minnie Ward. During this time, Peter's audacious spirit lead him to learn new skills at the Wirrabara Riffle Club for 8 months, which would subsequently assist him during the war. A few years before Peter embarked to Gallipoli, his parents Peter and Bridget Ward died, leaving his only family and next of kin to be Minnie Ward-Brackenridge. Therefore, leading up to Peter’s time during the war, he lived a simple life as a unmarried labourer.
On the 30th of August 1914 Peter enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. After less than two months in training base camp, Peter embarked on the A11 Ascanius on the 20th of October 1914. This steam passenger ship was requisitioned strictly for members of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force heading to Gallipoli and was one of the first convoy ships carrying troops for overseas service. After a tough voyage fill with sickness and uncomfortable circumstances, and then a few months of training in Egypt with numerous other prepared soldiers, Peter landed in Gallipoli.
LIFE DURING WAR:
Peter landed at Gallipoli with the 10th Battalion on the first day. About a month later, on 25th May, he was temporarily reported missing, but was soon found and evacuated sick to Egypt. However, he returned to his unit on Gallipoli on 15th August. Some weeks later, Ward fell ill with malaria and was again evacuated to Egypt (30thof September 1915). He returned to the 10th Battalion in March 1916, after the evacuation.
In April 1916 Ward travelled to France with his unit. He was ill for sometime but rejoined in time to fight in the battle of Pozières, which is said to be 6 long weeks of vicious fighting. Here, Peter was wounded in action, in the arm (21st of August 1916). After a short time in hospital, he again returned to the sickbed with an unrelated infection. After being discharged from the general hospital (15th of September 1916), Peter returned back to his base camp. Whilst there, Ward was found committing many crimes (21s tof October 1916). These crimes include: creating a disturbance after lights out, escaping under close arrest as well as being in the possession of alcohol. For his punishment, Ward was designated 14 days under arrest. He returned to the 10th Battalion on 24th of November 1916.
1917 was a year full of war for Peter John Ward. He received some leave to the UK in July, and to Paris from 17th to 23rd September, meaning he missed most of the fighting on the Menin Road. He enjoyed further leave in the UK in February and March 1918 before fighting with the 10th throughout 1918, until the battalion was withdrawn from action in September. After this time Ward, embarked to travel back to Australia on 8th October 1918. Leaving the War at 26 years and 10 months old and 4 years, 178 days of total service to his country.
LIFE AFTER WAR:
After war, Peter moved to Alberton, South Australia. Although Peter struggled from PTSD or “shell shock” he was still able to find love. He got married to Kathleen Ryan, the lived a very happy life together until death. Their happy life included four kids: John, Peter, Mary and Martin Ward. A way that Peter tried to forget about the awful struggles and trauma of war, he joined the Holy Name Society in his parish, where he was known and respected. Peter spent the rest of his 24 years of living in Alberton and died on the 9th of September 1942 (50 years old). It was said that he died in his home, due to a heart attack. This might sound awful however, all his loved ones were around him.