In Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 2406 Private James William Ward serving with the 1st/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 26/04/1915.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James William Ward was born 1888 in Kibblesworth, County Durham, one of 12 children of whom only 9 survived, 5 boys and 4 girls, born to George Ward 1865, a coal miner from Northumberland and Mary his wife. James William was working as a coal miner but also enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry as a Territorial in 1909 as Private 1041, 1st/8th Battalion, “E” Company, giving his address as 1, High Row, Kibblesworth. He was discharged in 1913 as having completed his term of 4 years, the following year marrying Mary H. Oakes in the district of Lanchester.
At the outbreak of war in 1914 he was automatically recalled to the Colours and assigned as Private 2406, reassigned to the 1st/8th Battalion, 50th Northumbrian Division. They moved to Boldon Colliery in early August, then Ravensworth Park and were in Newcastle upon Tyne by October. April 17th 1915 they landed as part of the British Expeditionary Force at Boulogne, James William arrived in the field April 20th 1915. After the failure of the British attacks at Neuve Chapelle the Germans attacked Ypres and without any nursery training the 1st/8th along with the other territorial battalions of the regiment were rushed into battle on the northern salient near St. Julien and the Gravenstafl Ridge.
Private 2406 James William Ward Durham Light Infantry was accepted to have died on or after April 26th 1915, six days after his arrival at the front. After Armistice his body was found on the battlefield map reference D. 8. A. 60. 20., exhumed, identified by means of a disc and locket and brought into Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres in Belgium for re-burial with full honours and reverence, grave XXXIII. A. 6.
His widow Mary Hannah received all monies due to him, a pension, his personal effects of a disc and locket also his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James William Ward is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04, in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 100 and the Battalion History page 264.
