Ward Walton was born in 1890 in Eccleshill the sixth of ten children of fishmonger Walker Walton and Emily, nee Ward. By 1911 Ward had left home and at 21 years of age was living in Brads Street, Broughton in Furness as a boarder. He was working as a rural postman for the General Post Office. When he enlisted on the 14th of May 1915 he gave his address as 31 The Bank, Eccleshill and was working for the Bradford General Post Office. Ward enlisted as Gunner 796083 in ‘B’ Battery of the 186th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery which became part of the 39th Division. He was twice injured by horses before going on active service and whilst at the front was also involved in an accident whilst with the heavy trench-mortar battery.

He was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres 31st July to 10th November 1917, otherwise known as Passchendaele. His battalion had fought in the Battle of Pilken 31st July to 2nd of August and the Battle of Langemarck 16th of 18th of August before Ward was killed by a shell on the 17th September 1917. He had at the front in France for about 12 months and was 28 years of age. He is buried in the Voormezeele Cemetery which was begun very early in the war and gradually increased until the village and the cemeteries were captured by the Germans after very heavy fighting on the 29th of April 1918. Ward left his effects to his mother Emily who received £8.19.6d on the 15th December 1917 and a War Gratuity of £10.10.0d on the 12th October 1919.

Researched and written by Jean Britteon, to whom many thanks

In reporting Ward’s death, the Shipley Times & Express also gave news of two of this brothers Pte Frank Walton (far right), who resides at 16 Craven Terrace, Eccleshill, and who has been fighting 12 months in France with the Duke of Wellington’s, has been seriously wounded in the right foot. He is at present an inmate of a Boulogne hospital. He is 32 years of age and prior to enlisting was employed as Mr Tom Barker’s nurseryman, Leeds Road. Cpl Enos Walton (above left) has been shot in the right hand and his thumb blown off with shrapnel. He is an inmate of a Birmingham hospital. He has served 12 months in France. He was formerly gymnastic instructor to the Eccleshill and Rawdon Congregational Clubs and was one of the competitors at the Olympic Games held in London He is attached to the Yorkshire Regt and was a farmer- gardener for Mr A E Hutton, Crow Trees, Rawdon.