Captain Thomas Ward

Thomas Ward was a remarkable man for he was a genuine gentleman ranker who, despite coming from a well to do background, decided to enlist into the ranks of the 14th Hussars in 1883 and only after seven years became a sergeant which was rapid promotion indeed and a testimony to his hard drive and ambition. He was a 2nd lieutenant in the Queen's Bays on 23 July 1890, lieutenant on 28 Aug 1895, and captain on 8 Dec 1897. He rose rapidly and commanded 'C' Squadron in South Africa, an outstanding record considering he had just been gazetted to lieutenant from sergeant nine years before. He was badly wounded in an attack on a Boer laager at Enkeldebosch in April 1902 along with many of his squadron, and mentioned in despatches by Lord Kitchener. He later left the regiment on retirement in 1904 and was seconded to the Denbighshire Hussars where he ended his Great War service as a Brigadier, and awarded the CMG. His father, Joseph Ward was a JP. While serving in the ranks of the 14th Hussars, Thomas had married Jeanette Octavia Cliff, with whom he fathered two daughters. Sometime after 1895 he seems to have divorced her, and on 7 May 1919 married Lady Kathleen Lowry-Corry daughter of the 4th Earl of Belmore. His children from his former marriage had been sidelined and subsequent gentry records shows he had a further two children, one of which was his only son, Captain Richard Thomas Ward MC who was killed with the Queen's Bays in the Second World War.

Regimental details | Soldiers