Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Edward VII ‘Southern Nigeria’ D.S.O. group of six awarded to Captain A. C. Ward, Lancashire Fusiliers, later killed in action at Cambrai on 26th August 1914

Distinguished Service Order, E.VII.R.; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (Lieut., Lanc. Fus.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 3 clasps, Aro 1901-1902, S.Nigeria 1902, S.Nigeria 1902-03 (Lieut., Lanc. Fus.); 1914 Star, with copy Mons bar (Capt. A. C. Ward, D.S.O., Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Arthur Claude Ward) light contact marks to the earlier campaign medals, otherwise nearly extremely fine (7) £4000-5000

D.S.O. London Gazette 28 October 1904 ‘In recognition of services during the operations in Southern Nigeria, 1903.’

Arthur Claude Ward was born at Roslyn Hall, Jamaica, in 1878, and was the third son of Colonel the Hon. C. J. Ward, C.M.G., and was educated at Beaumont College, Old Windsor. He joined the 6th (Militia) Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1899, and served in South Africa in 1900, receiving a direct commission into the Lancashire Fusiliers. Shortly after receiving his commission he was seconded for service under the Colonial Office, and in 1901 and 1902 took part in the Aro Expedition with the 3rd Southern Nigeria Regiment. In 1902 and 1903 he was engaged in the operations against Chief Adukukaiku, of Ingana, and those against the Aros and the people of Omonoha and Ebima. Colonel Heneker, in his book “Bush Warfare,” thus refers to Captain Ward’s services in the Ingarra Campaign:

‘At one place the enemy were posted on the far side of a rapid and unfordable river, which was some thirty yards wide. The only way across was by a slippery bog, partially under water and over which the current bubbled. The enemy had the more commanding bank and were ensconced in a trench running along the top, crowned by a light stockade. To charge the stockade frontally through the mud and water would have meant a great many casualties, so those in the swamp remained still hidden by the reeds, while two sections led by Lieut. A. C. Ward, Lancashire Fusiliers, made a slight detour, swam an open bit of water, and took the defenders in flank and rear. Their cheers were the signal for the remainder to charge, and by the time they had got up to the stockade the enemy had fled.

In leading his men across this bog, Lieut. Ward slipped and dropped his revolver. The enemy were firing from behind the stockade only eighty yards distant. His Colour Sergeant called to him to come back, but he went on with his sword only. The Colour Sergeant ran in front of him to protect him, received a bullet in his chest, and died the same evening.’

Ward became Captain on 15 March 1910, and served with the Lancashire Fusiliers in the Great War. On the 26th August 1914, forty-eight hours after landing in France, there was a sudden attack by an overwhelming force of the enemy near Cambrai at dawn on 12th Infantry Brigade, of which his battalion formed part, and it was smothered by machine gun fire. The battalion held on most gallantly, but had scarcely any artillery to assist them, and had not time to dig themselves in. Captain Ward was trying to assist wounded subalterns when he was killed instantaneously.

In a letter to his widow in March 1918, a brother officer, Captain Corbett-Winder, wrote: ‘I got to your husband, who was lying out in the open, and just behind our own M.G. and in the centre of his Company. He was already hit in the leg - a flesh wound through the left calf low down. I asked him if I could bandage it for him, but he replied it was alright, only rather numb. I spoke to him for a bit and asked him if he wouldnt be better down under a bank in front, but he said he could see better where he was.

I then went to where our Machine Gun was and saw Humfrey there, who engaged and putout of action for the time being, a gun which tried to come into action. This was the last I saw of him or his M.G. He was then alright. About 7 a.m. the Coy. changed its position slightly, falling back on to a lane with a bank parallel with, and about 50 yards behind our original position. Your husband continued to direct our fire, and was continually on the lookout for fresh targets, as was Boyle.

About 8 a.m. I got hit, and your husband, who was close to me, took off my coat and helped me. Things were at this time pretty hot and we lost several men. Your husband and Boyle however continued directing the fire of what men we had left against a Battn. (or more) Germans advancing across our front from left to right, and covered by their Machine Guns against us. After doing this for some time the said Battn. was almost, if not entirely, wiped out by a Battery which opened fire on them at close range from our right front, and things eased down for a bit, and I had a talk with Boyle, who was close to me. Some sharpshooters had (during the above mentioned episode with the Battn.) worked their way to within 100 yards of our little bank, and were backed up with machine guns, and your husband and Boyle directed the fire of what few men we had left against them. It was in looking for, and pointing out these targets that Boyle was killed (about 9.45 - 10 a.m.), shot near the heart and the left side of his head. He said “By God I’m killed” and dropped. Your husband saw this and immediately went to him, and knelt by his side, and was himself immediately shot through the head. He gave just a low groan and fell on to Boyle, their two heads resting together. I was about five yards away. I went to them, and they were both quite dead.’ For related family medals see Lots 344 & 479