Ward, George Herbert
Lieutenant George Herbert Ward of the 1/7th Manchester Regiment was officially reported "missing" at the Dardanelles on the 17th June last. Although no further news has been forthcoming from the War Office, it has been ascertained indirectly that he was killed in a bayonet attack on the Turkish trenches on June 4th.
Lieut., Ward was formerly a student of King's College where he obtained his B.A. degree in the 1st division. He also gained the distinction of an Associateship of the College. Immediately after leaving the College although only 21 years of age, he obtained the post of Vice-Principal of Kingswood College, Grahamstown, South Africa, where he stayed for three years. During that time he was one of the foremost educationalists in the town. He was a clever linguist and soon acquired the native and the Dutch tongues. He visited most of the towns of South and East Africa.
At the end of the 3 years he returned to England for a few months following on which he secured a post in the Egyptian Ministry of Education. He became proficient in the Arabic language and devoted much time to the manners and customs of the Egyptians.
At the outbreak of war, when the Manchester Regiment were in training in Cairo preparatory to their departure for the Dardanelles, he offered his service for his King and country.
In his last letter home he speaks of an advance towards the Turkish trenches, being near enough to hear the Turks at their devotions, with which of course, he would be quite familiar. Lieut. Ward was of a firm commanding, and yet gentle and sympathetic nature, and his sunny and genial manner easily made him a great favourite with all who knew him.
During his brief period of military service he proved himself an efficient soldier, became skilled in leadership, and won both the respect of his men and the friendship of his brother officers.
His was a strenuous life, ever seeking to add to his storehouse of knowledge, and much was crowded into the twenty-seven years of his life. He died but he did his duty to the end. His favourite couplet seems singularly appropriate to his life and death:
"One crowded hour of glorious bliss
Is worth an age without a name."
King's College Review, Dec. 1915
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Ward |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | George Herbert |
| Family details | Son of Herbert and Lucy Ann Ward of 18 Boscombe Road, Southend-on-Sea |
| College | King's College London and/or King's College London Hospital |
| Qualifications | B.A. (Lond), A.K.C. |
| Military unit | 7th Battalion Manchester Regiment |
| Place enlisted | Cairo |
| War / conflict | World War One (1914-1918) |
| Date of death | 4 June 1915 |
| Age at death | 26 |
| Rank at death | Lieutenant |
| Place of death | Gallipoli |
| Cause of death | Killed in a bayonet attack |
| Commemoration(s) | King's College Chapel; Helles Memorial |
| Sources | King's College London Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission |
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