Pte. Sidney Lancelot Evans Ward

"Sidney Lancelot Evans Ward (also known as 'Sidney Lancelot Ward') was born in Tauranga on 11 April 1896 (reg. 1896/14337). His parents were Gerard Arnold and Charlotte Sarah Ward (nee Goodall) who married in New Zealand on 8 April 1893. The family lived in McLean Street, Tauranga. Gerard Arnold Ward was an influential man in Tauranga, with many interests over the years: Mayor (21 December 1898 to 20 December 1899), proprietor of the Bay of Plenty Times, colonel of the Tauranga Mounted Rifles, conductor of the brass band, improver of the Mission Cemetery, chair of the Harbour Board, architect, etc. He also designed the Tauranga War Memorial Gates (est. 1921). Sidney was educated at St John's College from 1910 to 1912 and at King's College from 1913 to 1915. He worked as a bank clerk for the Bank of New Zealand and was a Hauraki Regiment Volunteer. On 30 January 1917 Sidney enlisted to serve during World War I. He was with the Auckland Infantry Regiment (Service No. 54673). Sidney was reported as sufferning from German measles on 25 February 1918 and then admitted to hospital with influenza on 22 March 1918. He was also involved in an accident with a dummy bomb during training on 8 June 1918 which saw him admitted to the Field Ambulance with a scalp wound. Recorded on his war record is, 'soldier was on duty at time of accident and in no way to blame, casualty is to be recorded as injured'. Private Sidney Lancelot Ward was killed in action at Bapaume in France on 25 August 1918, aged 22 (reg. 1918/84493). He was buried in the Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy, Pas-de-Calais, France (Grave Ref: I. F. 15.). On 18 September 1918 the Bay of Plenty Times reported: 'WARD On August 24th, killed in action in France, Lance-Corporal Sidney Lancelot Ward, second son of Colonel and Mrs G A Ward, Tauranga, aged 22 years. He offered and gave his life for the noblest cause known.' The Waiapu Church Gazette reported on 1 November 1918: 'Much sympathy is being expressed for Colonel and Mrs Ward on the death of Sidney Lancelot Ward, their second son. He was killed in action in France." Biography by Debbie McCauley (2014) https://debbiemccauleyauthor.wordpress.com/biographies/gerard-arnol...