King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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Lance Corporal Thomas Ward

Lance Corporal Thomas Ward, number 1988, died 31st August 1914, 4th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, accidentally shot at Slough.
Born Penrith; enlisted Grange over Sands.  Buried in St. Cuthbert's Churchyard, Cliburn.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO LOCAL TERRITORIAL. Lance-Corporal Thomas Ward, of Grange, was shot by a sentry about 9:20 pm on Monday, at a railway bridge on the Great Western Railway, between Slough and Burnham Beeches. He was in charge of the guard at the bridge in question and was taking a look round before turning in. The sentry seeing someone coming, and not knowing who it was, challenged three times, but got no response, and then fired. The bullet passed through the stomach, just above the belt, and stuck the bridge behind, death resulting in a few minutes. It is not known whether deceased heard the sentry's challenge or not, but it is thought possible that he thought someone on the road below was being challenged. At the inquest Private Fred Benson of Broughton-in Cartmel (the sentry) described how he challenged the lance-corporal and he received no reply, and in consequence fired. A verdict of "Justifiable homicide" was returned. The deceased was a native of Temple Sowerby, and the interment* took place there on Thursday. The news of the tragedy was received in Grange with great regret, deceased being a well known and popular young man. He was in the employ of Dr. Lowther, of Fernleigh, as a gardener, and was known as a capable and enthusiastic horticulturist.
*Lance Corporal Thomas Ward, was not buried at Temple Sowerby, but at St. Cuthbert's Churchyard, Cliburn, Cumberland.

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.