Forward Diaries and Letters

Introduction To Frank Ward's Letters and Diaries.


My father, Frank Ward was born on the 27th Oct 1892, at 53 Wood Street, Willenhall, to Sarah and William Ward who was a rim locksmith by profession. Frank had two sisters and four brothers.
Frank attended the"St Giles Church School" . He left school aged 14 and was employed by "Beddow & Sturmey" lockmakers, working on the machinery.
The Ward family worshiped at "St Giles Church" Willenhall. Two of his brothers (Harry & Fred) became bell-ringers during the period leading up to the outbreak of World War 1. The Rev.Arthur Pratt was vicar of St Giles at this time and would have known Frank well.
Another family also worshiped at St Giles were the Southalls. John Caleb Southall was a night latch maker and lived with his wife Sarah and daughters, Ethel and Edith and sons, Jack and Sydney. John Caleb had lived as a child at 50 Wood Street (very close to the Ward family) so perhaps a family friendship had started then. Ethel was born on 2nd Oct. 1894 at 21 Lichfield Street, Willenhall.
It is obvious from personal letters which have survived from this time, that Frank and Ethel were very much in love and were planning to spend the rest of their lives together despite their tender ages and threat of war.
In 1912, Frank enlisted with the T A (RAMC) with his friend and fellow bellringer David Appleby. When war was declared on the 4th Aug 1914 all volunteers were ordered to report to Wolverhampton Drill Hall. They were not sent to France immediately, but were stationed at Burton on Trent, then Luton and finally Newport, Essex, before going to France in March 1915.
During the four years of war, Frank kept a diary and wrote many letters.

I am most grateful to my niece, Kathryn and her husband Gerald Lambert for transcribing the diaries and letters.