July 1918

1st Monday
Painting.
Left Hesdigneul by M.A. for A.D.S. Essars.
 
2nd Tuesday
Night Orderly and Gas Picket.
 

 
5th Friday
Left A.D.S. at midday and returned by Car to HQ Hesdigneul.
 
6th Saturday
Day’s rest.
 
7th Sunday
24 hours Guard.
 
8th Monday
Digging out ground to loosen Marquees in the ground.  Defence Aircraft.
 
9th Tuesday
Line Orderly.
 
10th Wednesday
Digging in Marquees against shell fire.
 

 
12th Friday
Left Hesdigneul by M. Amb. for Gorre at midday and joined A Sect at brewery.
 
13th Saturday
Worked on supporting the Dressing Station with heavy props, and concreting the top.
 
14th Sunday
Gorre Brewery.
Same routine til 5pm.
 
15th Monday
Gorre.
Visited the Tuning Fork Post, which is situated one mile from A.D.S.
 
16th Tuesday
Part of B Sect. arrive at 4am, and relieve A Sect.  Cellar flooded after the rain.
 
17th Wednesday
Orderly in Dressing Station. 
Day Duty.
 

 
19th Friday
Volunteered to go to Gorre Chateau to bring in wounded which had been wounded there.  The road and place was shelled all the time.  After great excitement we brought them in Dressing Station.
 
20th Saturday
Recommended on the night of 19th for the M.M.
 

19 July 1918.

Pte Frank Ward R.A.M.C.Awarded The Military Medal.

 

Citation.

St Giles Church Magazine.

It was at St Giles Church School that Frank attended as a child, he went on to be a bell ringer at the church together with his elder brother Harry,
also with Chris Wallater and David Appleby.
Chris and David both joined up and were serving in France with Frank.
Ethel and Frank worshipped at the church at the time the Rev Arthur Pratt was the vicar, who was later to become the units padre.

25th Thursday
Same routine.
Received card of congratulation from G.O.C. (General Officer Commanding - possibly at this time Lt Col Sir Julian Byng, GOC Third Army)
 
28th Sunday
Left Gorre at 4.30am by Amb. train for Hesdigneul.
 
29th Monday
Awarded M.M.
Working on Medical Equipment.
Congratulated by Col. Hodder.
 
30th Tuesday
Col. Hodder leaves the Unit and joins 51 C.C.S.
 
31st Wednesday
Making up Medical Equipment.
 

June 1918

 
June 1918
 
2nd Sunday
Church Parade.
British driven back on the Marne.
 
3rd Monday
24 hours guard.
 
4th Tuesday
Hesdigneul.
Usual routine
Bert Mather wounded at night.  Top Post Le Hamel.
5th Wednesday
Same routine
Bert died of wounds.
 
16th Sunday
Church Parade.
 
17th Monday
Went cinema at night.
 
18th Tuesday
I left Hesdigneul at 1.30pm with relief party for Essars, journeyed by Motor Amb.
 
19th Wednesday
Essars.
Duty in Dressing Sta. and Gas Picket.
 
22nd Saturday
Ditto and night duty.
 
Mems.
Received letter from French Military Staff.
 
23rd Sunday
Many gas shells dropped here.
 
24th Monday
Returned to HQ Hesdigneul.
 
25th Tuesday
Day’s rest.
26th Wednesday
Usual routine.
 
27th Thursday
Ditto.
 
28th Friday
Ditto.
 
29th Saturday
With working party of 24, proceeding to Essars, where A.D.S. was being made during nights.  Returned at 5am on 30th.
 
30th Sunday
Day’s rest.
A.D.S.
Celebrated B of LD 25.
 

May 1918.

 
1st Wednesday
Heavy bombardments.
Busy fetching in wounded.
 
2nd Thursday
Ditto.
 
3rd Friday
The Germans occupied these places a few weeks ago, driven out by our troops.
 
4th Saturday
C Sect gassed at Gorre, about 70 evacs to C.C.S.
 
5th Sunday
Heavy artillery duels.
 
6th Monday
Returned by car to Hesdigneul, passing through Béthune and Fouquières.
 
7th Tuesday
Hesdigneul.
Day’s rest.
 
8th Wednesday
24 hours Guard.
 
9th Thursday
Hesdigneul.
Marched to Béthune at night.  Stood to at tobacco factory in readiness for Bosch attack.
 
10th Friday
Returned to Hesdigneul at day break, slept by day, and repeated the same stand to at Béthune by night. 
 
11th Saturday
Returned by day break, and usual routine.
 
12th Sunday
Hesdigneul.
Church parade.
 
13th Monday
24 hours guard.
 
14th Tuesday
Path making.
 
15th Wednesday
Went to Beuvry on waggon, shelled heavily, and had to clear out.
 
16th Thursday
Drawing slag from the heap Bruay.
 
17th Friday
24 hours guard.
 
18th Saturday
Guard day.
 
19th Sunday
Church Parade.
Cricket match and base ball with Americans.
 
20th Monday
Trench digging.
Draft of 37 men.
 
21st Tuesday
24 hours guard.
Hostile air raids at night, many machines over.  Diment killed by Bosch M.G.B. (Machine Gun Battery)
 
22nd Wednesday
Diment buried.
Trench digging.
 
 
24th Friday
Left Hesdigneul by M. Amb. at 1.30pm, relieved party at A.D.S. Essars on the way passing through Béthune.
 
25th Saturday
Stretcher bearer and Orderly in Dressing Sta.
Rather quiet day.
Watched fires burning in Béthune after heavy shelling.
 
27th Monday
Ditto.  Heavy shelling.
 
30th Thursday
Relieved at midday, and we returned by M. Amb. to Hesdigneul.
 
31st Friday
Hesdigneul.
Rest.
German offensive resumed.
 
 

Post Card.

Das deutfche Land

This post card written in a German hand was amongst Frank’s collection of cards.
If any one can transcribe the writing I should be pleased to know.
Contact me on
Kenwardward@gmail.com

 

 

April 1918.

 
1st Monday/6th Saturday
Day Duty in No. 2 Surgical Ward.
 
7th Sunday
Heavy fighting continues.  Wounded coming in all the time.  We are
 
10th Wednesday
The Germans are still placing overpowering numbers against this front.  Heavy casualties on both sides. 
 
12th Friday
Lillers.
We sent all the wounded on tractors and the C.C.S. packed up to evacuate.  I had a good time for last day.  Fritz bombs here at night.
 
13th Saturday
We left at 2am by M.A.C. and rejoined Unit at Labourse at 3am.  Reveille 5.30am, then Unit leave the above place at 8.30am.  March to Divion a distance of 8 miles.  Billeted in old barns. 
 
14th Sunday
Divion.
Standing to for the line.
 
16th Tuesday
Heavy bombardments continue.
 
17th Wednesday
The Unit march away from Divion at 11.30am and arrive at Bruay at the old C.C.S.
18th Thursday
Bruay.
Still standing to for the line.
 
21st Sunday
Bruay.
 
22nd Monday
Bruay.
Admitted to hospital.
 
23rd Tuesday
Sick.
 
24th Wednesday
Ditto.
 
25th Thursday
The Unit march away from Bruay to Hesdigneul.  I went by Amb. waggon.  We erected camp, billeted in Bell tents.
 
26th Friday
Hesdigneul.
Ex. Duty.
 
27th Saturday
Unloading Medical Stores Waggon.
 
28th Sunday
Hesdigneul.
Church Parade.
 
29th Monday
Usual routine.
 
30th Tuesday
Left Hesdigneul for the line A.D.S. at Essars, our post at farm house at Le Hamel.
Gas picket.
 

March 1918

 
6th Wednesday
Walk out into the town of St Pol, and had a good time.
 
7th Thursday
Discharged from Hospital, entrained for my Unit at Béthune arriving there at 4pm.  By R.T.O. Orders I had to return to Labourse.  Private room.
 
8th Friday
Spent a good night and left Labourse at 10.30am for Béthune, arriving there 12 midday, rejoined my Unit at Institute St. Vaaste.
 
9th Saturday
Béthune.
Nothing much doing.
 
10th Sunday
Church Parade.
 
11th Monday
Dining Hall Duty.
 
14th Thursday
Inoculated at night.
 
15th Friday
No Duty, bed. 
 
17th Sunday
Béthune.
Route March during the morning, and then Units team play 1/1 NMFA at Fouquières.  Result 3rd 3-2.
 
18th Monday
Dining Hall Orderly.
 
19th Tuesday
The town shelled during the morning.  Children, women, and a few soldiers wounded.
 
20th Wednesday
Same routine.
The town again shelled.
 
21st Thursday/23rd Saturday
Myself included in a party of 18 B Sect march to Lillers for temporary attached Duty with No. 58 C.C.S.  The place bombed at night and the Station by Hospital also one train of ammunition blown up, and fired.  Shells blown all over the town and into Hospital.  Many casualties.  Nurse killed and Matron badly wounded.  We turned out in Stretcher Squads to the scene, the bombing continued for hours.
Albert returns from leave on the 19th.
Ward Duty in the No. 2 Serious Surgical Wounds.
 

Pte Frank Ward RAMC Honoured.

On the 21-23 March 1918 Frank was commended for his conduct by a French General {General De Laqohe} who wrote to his C.O. praising him for his daring during an air raid “He exhibited the greatest courage” says the French General and showed wonderful activity searching smoking debris with extreme devotedness under fire, withdrawing the wounded and bearing them to hosp

 
24th Sunday
Ward Duty.
Terrible fighting.
British fall back on Somme.
 
25th Monday
Same Duty Routine.
German offensive continues.
 
31st Sunday

February 1918.

 
 
February 1918
 
3rd Sunday
I had a pass out from 1pm o’clock for the purpose of visiting Albert, entraining at Berguette Station.  I had a good time, having to walk 2 1/2..
 
8th Friday
Annezin.
Wet weather.
Loading ready to move.
9th Saturday
The Unit march away from Annezin at 9am, and arrive at Nédon at 4pm, a distance of 12 miles, billeted in old barns.
La Lacque Camp.
Passed through Marles & Auchel.
 
10th Sunday
Wet weather.
Marched away from Nédon at 9am, arriving at Prédefin at 3pm, billeted in Barns, the houses here being at intervals of 1/2 miles.
 
11th Monday
Prédefin.
David and I take over duties at YMCA Canteen, which is in Marquee.  We lived in bell tent alongside same.
 
14th Thursday
Frost.
 
17th Sunday
Prédefin.
YMCA Canteen Duties.
Frost.
 
20th Wednesday
Wet weather.
 
21st Thursday
Same duties.
Feeling rotten.
 
22nd Friday
Still feeling rotten
Temp 100.4
 
23rd Saturday
Prédefin.
I was seen by M.O. in my tent and was found to be suffering with German Measles.  I was sent by Motor Amb. to No. 12 Stationary St. Pol. 
Bed patient milk diet.
Temp 102.8
 
24th Sunday
No. 12 Stationary St. Pol. 
Bed, milk diet.
temp am 101.6, pm 102.8
 
25th Monday
Sick.
Bed, milk diet.
Temp am 99.6, pm 100.4
 
26th Tuesday
Sick.
Bed, milk diet.
 
27th Wednesday
Sick.
Up.

January 1918.

January 1918
 
1st Tuesday
Fouquières.
Day Orderly in Surgical Ward.
Still sweating on duration of War.
 
3rd Thursday
Snow storm.
 
6th Sunday
Orderly Duty.
I had a pass out for the afternoon, & visited a few of my old acquaintances at Labeuvrière.
 
13th Sunday
Fouquières.
Day Orderly Surgical Ward. 
 
15th Tuesday
Heavy Storms.
Preparing to move.
 
16th Wednesday
Orderly Duty.
 
21st Monday
My Section march away from Fouquières at 1.30pm to Annezin & the Field Amb. stationed there had not moved. Still we had a good billet.
 
22nd Tuesday
Annezin.
The Section had a Route March to Labeuvrière.  During the morning the weather being mild and fine, no duty for afternoon.
 
23rd Wednesday
March out to same place, the weather being fine, no duty afternoon.
 
24th Thursday
My Section take over Hospital, and I carry on with Orderly Duty in Ward
No. 3.  The remainder of the Unit arrive here during the afternoon.
 
25th Friday
Nice weather.
 
26th Saturday
Ditto.
Nice weather. 
 
27th Sunday
Annezin.
Hospital Duty.
Nice weather.
 
28th Monday
Hospital Duty.
Bombing at night.  Many Casualties at our Station.  10 French men killed.
Nice weather.
 
29th Tuesday
Hospital Duties.
 
31st Thursday
Annezin.
The Unit attend the military funeral of the ten French men killed in air raid.
 
 

Post Card

This Greeting Card was sent from Ethel,(Frank's wife to be)to Frank.The pencil writing is now to indistinct to read.

 

December 1917.

December 1917
 
1st Saturday/20th Thursday
Orderly Duty in Medical Ward.
 
21st Friday
Changed over my Orderly Duties to Surgical Ward.
 
24th Monday
Quite happy.
 
25th Tuesday Christmas Day
Had a decent time.
 
26th Wednesday/31st Monday
Orderly Duties to Surgical Ward.
 

November 1917.

November 1917
 
2nd Friday
Left Labourse for Solent Post by Amb Waggons and far as Philosophe, from there we marched the rest of the way.
 
5th Monday
Left Solent for Natal Post, Hill 70 during the afternoon.
 
6th Tuesday
Busy day. 
 
7th Wednesday
Left Natal Post for Labourse.
 
8th Thursday - 9th Friday
Labourse.
 
10th Saturday
Left Labourse for Chalk pit.
 
12th Monday
Left Labourse by column of Route for Fouquières, Corps Rest Station, arriving at the former place at midday.  This hospital at present has accommodation for many hundred patients.  My Unit stayed at this place in October 1915, when the Div made the Charge.
 
13th Tuesday
Orderly Duty in Medical Ward.
 

October 1917

October
 
2nd Tuesday
Stationed at Solent Post.  Heavy artillery duels.
 
4th Thursday
  Returned to Fort Glatz after dinner, and went on Night Duty in Dressing Station.
 
5th Friday
Fritz shells the village of Loos, 14 stretcher cases wounded from the line during the night. 
 
8th Monday
A busy night, a fair number of wounded.
 
10th Wednesday
Left Fort Glatz at 3pm along with a squad of 4, and went to Natal Post, which is situated on the top of Hill 70, and which a few weeks previous was held by the Germans, but was captured by Canadian Div.  This Dug-out is about 4-6 ft high, 4 ft wide and 7 ft long.   The trenches here, thigh deep in mud and water.
 
11th Thursday
Artillery activity.
Rain.
 
14th Sunday
Digging large sump hole in trench to drain same, which is 2 ft deep in mud and water.
 
16th Tuesday
Left Hill 70, and returned to Fort Glatz, from there we proceeded to Philosophe by Motor Amb, there to Labourse by horse Amb.
 
17th Wednesday
Washed the mud off my clothing during the morning, and worked the afternoon on transport lines.
 
18th Thursday
Labourse.
Worked the Transport lines.
 
21st Sunday
Left Labourse at 1pm Horse Amb, which took us to Philosophe, and from there we marched to Fort Glatz Loos, in the course of which we watched a duel in the air by one of Fritz’s latest machines, and a one seater of ours, the latter bringing the Bosch to the ground smashing the plane entirely and killing Pilot and Observer, the corpses being taken to our Station at Philosophe.  From there we went to Solent Post, near Slag Heap.
 
22nd Monday
Solent Post.
We had two stretcher cases during the night to take to Fort Glatz. 
 
23rd Tuesday
Fritz shells a Ration party of the 7th S. Staffs near out post by the slag heap.  We immediately turned out, dressed the wounds and took the cases later to Fort Glatz.  It was a pitch dark night and we had to cross many trenches, we got down to sleep at 7am on the 24th.  At 3pm we left Solent Post for Natal Post on Hill 70.  We turned out at night to fetch in 6 wounded which we had to take to Tunnel Post.
 
24th Wednesday
Natal Post.
 
27th Saturday
Left Natal Post at 4pm and walked to Fort Glatz, continuing to Philosophe, leaving that place by Horse Amb, for HQ at Labourse.
 

September 1917

September 1917
Left Willenhall on Friday night September 14th, at 10.55pm, arrived Euston at 3.30am of the 15th.  Conveyed by Motor to Victoria Sta., left the latter at 6.30am for Folkestone, disentrained at Shorncliffe.  Marched to R. Billets, and embarked at 1.30pm, landing at Boulogne at 3.45pm.  Marched to St Martins Rest Camp 3 miles out.  Reveille 12 midnight, breakfast 12.30.  March to Station at 2.30am Sunday morning 16/9/17.  Entrained, arriving at Béthune at 12 midday.  Had dinner, and rejoined Unit 6 miles away at Labourse.
 
17th Monday
Labourse.
Working on transport lines and went up to trenches at night.
 
18th Tuesday
Labourse.
Sand bagging for reserve Dressing Dug Out Station.
 
19th Wednesday
Labourse.
Working on Dug-out.
 
23rd Sunday
Labourse.
Dining Hall Attendant.
 
24th Monday
Dining Hall, and at night a party went to Philosophe along with party of 32 men by Ambulance Waggons.  From that place we marched to front line trenches along with Batt of Infantry, who were carrying in Gas cylinders.
 
28th Friday
Left Labourse by Horse Ambulance for Philosophe, and motored by Ambulance to Fort Glatz Loos, which place owing to excessive shelling by the Germans and us at different times has been blown to bits, simply piles of bricks and rubbish, not a house left standing.  This place has been reduced to the ground practically worse than any other. 
From the above Fort, we a part of 4 men and a Sergeant marched to Solent post, which is a fine deep dugout, situated at the far side of Loos. 
 
29th Saturday
Great aerial activity takes place here.  I witnessed many duels in the air.  Taking wounded from here to Fort Glatz, which is the Advanced Dressing Station. 
 
30th Sunday
Gas Picket to be done each night between us.  Heavy shelling in this area.
 
______________________________________________
 
 
              Diary of Frank Ward Diary 1917 
June

August 1917

August 1917
 
1st Wednesday
Night Clerk duty. 
Cold and wet weather prevails.
 
4th Saturday.
Heavy bombardment prevails.
 
5th Sunday
Village bombarded at night, many killed and wounded.
 
6th Monday
Heavy shelling continues on both sides.
 
7th Tuesday
Night Clerk.
Philosophe shelled heavily.
 
10th Friday
Night clerk.  Gas shells sent into village.  Horns blowing, we had to wear Gas Helmets for 1 hour.  After that time it cleared off.  Fires were lit in Dressing Station and cellars to clear out the Gas.
 
13th Monday
Labourse.
 
15th Wednesday
Left Noeux-les-Mines for Leave.
Spent night at Boulogne.
 
 
 
 
16th Thursday
 
Sailed at 8.30am.
Arrived Willenhall at 8pm.
 
Leave dated from 16.8.17 to 16.9.17
 

July 1917

 
July
1st Sunday
Heavy bombardment still prevails.  Wet weather has continued practically all the week.
 
3rd Tuesday
Division relieved after 3 months fighting on Lens front, in which time they inflicted many casualties on the Hun, and gained ground, themselves having a good number of casualties.  The rest of my Unit come out of Lens and return.
 
4th Wednesday
Night Duty.
German Planes over at Midnight, and bomb Béthune.
 
7th Saturday
German Planes again over.
 
16th Monday
Night orderly at Rest Station Labeuvriere. 
 
18th Wednesday.
Lt Col Hodder returns to Unit after 2 months in England, owing to head wounds sustained in Lievin.
 
19th Thursday
Same routine, hospital duty.
Fine concert at night in Hospital Rec. Hall for personnel only of Fld Amb.
Col Hodder presided.  Col Wrath was also in attendance.  It was a great success.
 
20th Friday
My Hospital Duties finish at Hospital Station Labeuvriere, as most of B Sect leave for line tomorrow. 
 
21st Saturday
Vermelles.
B Sect leave Labeuvriere in Ambulance waggons for the line, Main Dressing Station at Philosophe.  I along with squad of four went on to Half Way House Relay Post, which is a good dugout, Hulluch no 3, near Vermelles.
 
22nd Sunday
Bombing raid at night.  We were out collecting until 6am of the 23rd, Lincoln & Leicesters Bgde the only ones in the line out of 46 Div.
 
23rd Monday
Stretcher bearing at night.  Heavy bombardments continue.
 
25th Wednesday
My squad is relieved during morning, and return to Main Dressing Station for 4 days at Philosophe.
 
26th Thursday
Night Clerks Duty in Dressing Station.
 
29th Sunday
Advanced Dress Sta. Philosophe.  Night Clerk.  The village heavily shelled, several drop within a few yds of Sta.
 
30th Monday
Night Clerk along with Canadian RAMC.