Harleston War Memorial - Harleston, Norfolk - Non-Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

A special plaque to Private Henry Ward, Norfolk’s First VC, 78th Regiment, 1823 to 1867, on Harleston War Memorial, Broad Street.

"Quartermaster Sergeant. Born 1823, Harleston. Died 12 September 1867, Malvern Worcestershire. Buried in Great Malvern Cemetery, Worcestershire. At the time of his V.C. he was a Private with the 78th Regiment. Indian Mutiny 1857 - First Releif of Lucknow - 25th September 1857 - At Lucknow, he was escorting the dhoolie containing LieutenantHavelock. Another wounded man, Private Pilkimgton, threw himself into the dhoolie. The bearers were about to drop this double load, but Ward compelled them to remain by his example, exertions and cheerfulness. Under heavy fire, the dhooliewas brought to the 'Baillie Guard' in safety. Ward later became Lieutenant Havelock's servant."

SOURCE - (visit link)

"Henry Ward VC (1823 – 12 September 1867) was an English soldier and a 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. He was born in Harleston, Norfolk, and died in Malvern, Worcestershire.

Details

Ward was approximately 34 years old, and a private in the 78th Regiment of Foot (later The Seaforth Highlanders Ross-shire Buffs, Duke of Albany's), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 25 and 26 September 1857 in Lucknow, British India, for which he was awarded the VC:

"For his gallant and devoted conduct in having on the night of the 25th, and morning of the 26th of September, 1857, remained by the dooly of Captain H. M. Havelock, 10th Regiment, Deputy Assistant-Adjutant-General, Field Force, who was severely wounded, and on the morning of the 26th of September, escorted that Officer and Private Thomas Pilkington, 78th Highlanders, who was also wounded, and had taken refuge in the same dooly, through a very heavy cross fire of ordnance and musketry. This soldier remained by the side of the dooly, and by his example and exertions kept the dooly bearers from dropping their double load, throughout the heavy fire, with the same steadiness as if on parade, thus saving the lives of both, and bringing them in safety to the Baillie Guard." (Extract from Divisional Orders of Major-General Sir James Outram, G.C.B., dated 27th October, 1857.

Ward later became the personal servant of Sir Henry Havelock whose life was saved by Ward in his VC action and later achieved the rank of quartermaster-sergeant. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of Queens Own Highlanders in Fort George, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Ward was buried in a pauper's grave in Malvern, Worcestershire. By 2014, his grave was in a poor state of repair and the local council proposed to repair in association with the Victoria Cross Trust."

SOURCE - (visit link)

As a whole, this plaque is affixed to the combined WWI / WWII memorial cross, consisting of celtic cross, with animals in the upper section and snakes around the outer circles on the arms of the cross. It is set on a tapering plinth and base. The inscription and names are in black lettering on 3 sides of the plinth, with the additional plaque/tablet for Ward VC at the bottom of the shaft, just above the main inscription on the front face.

Inscription -
Front:
TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY
OF THE
REDENHALL HARLESTON WORTWELL MEN
WHO FELL IN THE WAR
1914-1918.
AND THE WAR 1939-1945.
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
(NAMES)

Sides:
(NAMES)

Additional plaque/tablet on front above main inscr:
NORFOLK'S FIRST V.C.
PTE HENRY WARD
78TH REGIMENT
1823-1867


Names on memorial -

1914 - 1918

ALDERTON Herbert Arthur
BACON Arthur James
BALDWIN Charles
BARBER F
BENTHAM Archibald Thomas
BOND L
BORRETT Frederick Arthur
BORRETT John Samuel
BORRETT Stanley Frank
BROWN Albert
BROWN Allen
BUCK Arthur Louis
BUSSEY Frederick Arthur
CAREY Herbert Jesse
COOK Charles
COOK Frederick James
COOPER George Clarence
COOPER Percy Banyard
DALLISTON Edward [Bly]
DOVE George [Harold]
DOWLING Denis William
DURRANT Lombe Atthill
FARLEY Michael Francis
FEAVIOUR William Clacy
FLEGG J A
FROST George Henry
FROST W B
GOFFIN Frederick James
GOLDSMITH John
GOWER Austin Arthur
HAZARD William Noel
HEWITT Ernest Frederick
HEWITT F J
HINES William John
JAMES George Ernest John
JOHNSON Thomas James
MARKWELL Herbert Charles
MITCHELL Reginald James
NUTHALL E W
OLLEY Clare [Davey]
OSBORNE F
OXBORROW James Edwin
PALLENT Richard
PAYNE O J
PECK William Henry
PHILLIPS J
RAY Herbert Edward
RAYNER Leonard Arthur
RAYNER S J
REEVE Hector Macdonald
RICHES Henry George
ROUSE H
SADLER Robert
SAUNDERS Herbert Waller
SAUNDERS James Edward
SAYER Thomas [Edward]
SHORT Charles
SMITH Philip
SMITH R James
SMITH R J
STAFF Reginald
STONE J W
TIDMAN Percy Robert
TIDMAN W
TURNER E W
TURNER Robert Joshua
WALLER William A
WARNES Donald George
WEBB Frederick John
WEBB Horace
WHITAKER B
WOOLTERTON E R

1939-1945

BRETT P G
CALVER L V G
CHAMBERLAINE H
CHAPMAN Herbert Samuel
DANIELS A F
DRAKE Harry John
DUFFY J J
FARROW FS
HARDY Percy Frederick
HOWARD Dennis Marshall
HOWARD Leonard George
JOHNSON Frank Walter
LAIT John [Frederick]
LOOME James Robert
LOVE G A
LUSHER N
MATHEWSON Thomas Ivor
PEARCE H E
PEMBERTON Richard Herbert Stote
SNELLING Godfrey William
TURNER L L
WARDEN E J
WILES Arthur William
WISKEN Walter

Additional information - (visit link)

Type of Memorial: Multi-War Memorial Wars mentioned (Multi-war only): WWI WWII In Honor Of: Private Henry Ward, VC, plus fallen of WWI / WWII Marker Text: Norfolk’s First VC Pte. Henry Ward 78th Regiment 1823 - 1867 ----------- TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE REDENHALL HARLESTON WORTWELL MEN WHO FELL IN THE WAR 1914-1918. AND THE WAR 1939-1945. FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH (NAMES) Who Put it Here?: Not Known Description of Memorial: Engraved slate plaque addition to granite WWI / WWII war memorial Date of dedication: Not listed

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