Hull Pals Memorial Post. PRIVATE CHARLES EDWARD WARD 39655. Born Hull, 1897. The son of Charles William Capes Ward (1853-1913) and Charlotte Sayers (1856-1915) of 3, Burleigh Street, Hull (1901 Census), the Angle Hotel, Bourne Street, Hull (1911 Census) and 38, Victor Street, Holderness Road, Hull. His father was a publican. He had two brothers and four sisters.
Charles is the last of our men who died during that fateful attack on Soyer Farm on 7th September 1918. Someone had to draw the short straw that day and walk into that barbed wire and those machine guns. If it wasn’t the Pals, then it would have been one of the other battalions, who lost another set of men, who were someone else’s sons; It was just that fate decreed it should be the 10TH EYR, and despite their losses, they prevailed and with reinforcement succeeded in driving the Germans back as planned. Snagged in barbed wire, raked by machine guns and at the mercy of shrapnel shells, yet on they went despite their tender years; and won. Alas, Charles did not survive to see it. He was buried “3 miles NNW of Armentieres” at the point which became known as Pont D’Achelles Military Cemetery, Nieppe.
His war pension was left to his eldest sister, Mrs Edith Elizabeth Wilkinson, of 8, Nornabell Street, Hull (war pension address). His army effects were shared between his siblings, Edith, Alfred. Arthur, Charlotte Squires and Hannah.
His name is recorded on Hull St Matthews Church, Boulevard WW1 Memorial.
