Benjamin Ward
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Benjamin was the son of Joseph and Mary Ward. Joseph and Mary were probably married in 1877 O/N/D Nottingham (Mary Cuckson). Mary was widowed by 1911 when she completed the census as head of household stating that she had been married for 38 years and had had eight children of whom only six were still living. Eight children have been traced on the census between 1881 and 1911: Ann/Annie b. Nottingham, Benjamin b. 1880 Ripley, Elizabeth b. Sleaford Lincolnshire, William b. Sleaford, Frederick b. Newark, George b. Newark, Mary b. Newark and Charles b. Nottingham. In 1881 Joseph, a railway labourer, and Mary (29) were living at 6 Bonner's Yard, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, with their three children, Ann, Benjamin, and Elizabeth (14 days). Also in the household was the widowed Harriet Groom (54 b. Bury St Edmunds) who was described as a servant. By 1891 Joseph, a general labourer, and Mary had moved to 2 Duke's Row, Newark, Nottinghamshire. They now had seven children: Annie (14), Benjamin (13) a brewer's bottle washer, Elizabeth (10), William (8), Frederick (4), George (2) and Mary (2months). The family moved again and in 1901 Joseph and Mary were living at 2 Parliament Terrace, Nottingham, in the ecclesiastical parish of St Thomas. Benjamin's mother was now working as a sick nurse. In the home on the night of the census were five siblings; Benjamin (23) a general labourer, Elizabeth (21) a general domestic servant, William (19) who was in work, and George (11) and Charles (6) who were still at school. Also in the household was a boarder, Edward Maricott (30). Benjamin married Sarah Ann Brookes in 1910 (J/A/S Nottingham) and in 1911 he and Sarah (31, b. Hickling, Leicestershire) were living at 10 Hinds Yard, Angel Row, Market Place, Nottingham. Also in the household was Benjamin's sister-in-law, Kate Brookes (24, b. Hickling) who was a jennier (lace industry) and John Leslie Brookes (2, b. Nottingham) his nephew by marriage. Benjamin's father had died sometime after 1901 and his widowed mother, Mary (48), now working as a midwife, was living on Wollaton Street, Nottingham, with two of her sons, William (29) a general labourer, and Charles (16), an errand boy. Benjamin's widowed remarried in 1919 (A/M/J Nottingham) - Albert A Brown. Her address on both the RN/RM record and CWGC record was given as 172 North Gate, Old Basford, Nottingham
1st RM Bn Royal Naval Division. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. Ward was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).'
Note: the ages of Joseph and Mary Ward are inconsistent on the census returns and Joseph is named 'George' on the 1901 census although all other details confirm his identity. St Thomas church record, Register Entry 1581: Benjamin WARD. Pte Royal Marines. Killed in France 30 (sic) March 1917 age 38. 3 Parliament Terrace.
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