Charles Ward (VC)

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This article is about the recipient of the Victoria Cross. For the New Zealand politician elected to the Second New Zealand Parliament in 1855, see Charles Ward (NZ politician).

Photo submitted by Keith Gregory

Charles Burley Ward (10 July 1877 – 30 December 1921) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

1 Details
2 Further information
3 The medal
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Details

He was 22 years old, and a Private in the 2nd Batallion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, British Army during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 26 June 1900 at Lindley, South Africa, a picquet of the regiment was surrounded on three sides by about 500 Boers and the majority of them were either killed or wounded. Private Ward volunteered to take a message asking for reinforcements to the signalling post about 150 yards away. He was eventually allowed to go, although it seemed certain that he would be shot, and he managed to get across through a storm of bullets. Having delivered his message, he returned to his commanding officer across the fire-swept ground, and was severely wounded, but his gallant action saved the post from capture.

[edit] Further information

Last winner of the VC to be decorated by Queen Victoria. He later achieved the rank of Company Sergeant-Major.
Born in Leeds, Yorkshire, he died at Bridgend, Glamorgan and is buried in St Mary's Churchyard, Cardiff.
A (silent) movie interview with Pte Ward following his award of the VC was filmed by the Lancashire cinematographers Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon; sealed in steel barrels after their company went out of business in the 1920s, the 800 films of their archive were discovered during demolition work in 1994, and have now been restored by the British Film Institute.