Monday 29 November 2010

The End

Frank Retires 1957.

After a service of some 37 years with the Pearl Assurance Company he retires

Obituary 1975.

Sadly Frank dies after a short illness at the age of 83 years to be followed by Ethel a year later at the age of 82 years.
They are survived by two sons, six grand children and three great grand children

Local Newspaper Cutting.


Obituary 1975.

 Sadly Frank dies after a short illness at the age of 83 years to be followed by Ethel a year later at the age of 82 years.
They are survived by two sons, six grand children and three great grand children.

 

Acknowledgement.

I am indebted to my niece Kathryn and her husband Gerald for all the hard work and enthusiasm shown in transcribing dads
diaries ,letters and postcards together with their help in transferring the text to the blog.

Acknowledgement.

I had long been curious as to how my Granddad, Frank Ward had earned his Military Medal, but the only thing my Mum (Frank's only daughter) knew was that he had rescued a comrade from no-mans land.  A visit to the National Archives website told me that when a medal was awarded there was also a written citation that went with it but was the responsibility of the recipient to keep it; no official record of the citation was kept.   So a few years ago I asked my Uncle Ken if he knew how Frank had earned his medal.  Not only did he have the original citation but also Frank's pocket diary for 1915.  My other Uncle (Stan) had three more diaries covering the war years and several letters and postcards from Frank to Ethel, sent from the Front.   So with my husband Gerald's help we transcribed all the diaries and letters. 

They have given a fascinating insight into Frank's war years and his relationship with Ethel and his fellow comrades.  I remember my Granddad as a modest and unassuming man and I wish I had spoken to him about his past but I don't suppose he would have told me half of what I have learnt from his letters and diaries.  I hope he doesn't mind the publicity too much!
 
 
 


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