Mick Ward
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Mick Ward lodged with a Mrs. Hallam, a woman whose son, Bill, was killed and other son, John, was wounded. Mick Ward's brother, John, who also lodged in the same house, was taken prisoner.
Private Mick Ward, 3rd Battalion, London Regiment, enlisted on 13th January 1915. He landed in France on 10th May 1915 and was transferred to Salonika where he contracted malaria and in November 1916 he was admitted to hospital at Malta and later returned to Carrington hospital in England. Following his return to France he was killed in action on 18th September 1918 aged 23 he is buried at Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy, France. The former miner and amateur footballer had enlisted on 13th January 1915, going to France with the 5th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, on 10th May that year, before being posted to Salonica the following November. He recuperated from malaria in Malta and in Nottingham. He returned to France...in February 1917 but was again invalided home in July and came home on leave in October. Returning to France again in 1918 he was killed after transferring to the London Regiment.
Article published 'Hucknall Dispatch,' 24th October 1918 “RIFLEMAN MICK WARD. “September 18 is the date given for the death of Rifleman Mick Ward, who enlisted on January 13, 1915. He went to Winchester, and passed through his training at Sheerness. On May 10 of the same year he went forth to meet the foe in France, but in November, 1915, he was hurried off to Salonica without a visit to his home. Whilst there he contracted the malaria fever, and in November, 1916, he was taken to a hospital in Malta. Not long afterwards. however, he was brought near home, even to Carrington Hospital. “In February, 1917, he was called upon to throw off the “hospital blue,” and make tracts for France, but in July he was found to be unfit for the arduous warfare which was then raging, and he arrived at Farnworth Hospital, Bolton, and managed to get home exactly a year ago. His travails were not yet over, for he next crossed to Tipperary, but he had to go into hospital at Bray. Once more he came home for a few days, following which he was once more despatched to France. This proved to be his last visit to battle zone, for he was killed in action on September 18, 1918, at the age of 23 years. “The gallant lad had a host of friends. and played football with the Byron and Athletic Clubs. He was employed at Hucknall No. 1 pit, and attended the Butler's Hill Primitive Methodist Chapel.” All information is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
