The Ward Line - Kent to South Australia
William Frank (Bill) Ward was born on 6 July 1904 in Ashford, Kent. Bill was the eldest child of Frank Ward and Martha Jane Wooderson.
On Christmas Day 1931 Bill married Doris Ellen Woolven at The Good Shepherd Church in Brighton, Sussex. Doris was the second daughter of Edgar George Woolven and Edith Nelly Tingley. At the time of their marriage both Bill and Doris were living at 9 Scarborough road, the Woolven family home. Bill’s mother Martha Jane Ward and Doris’s father Edgar George Woolven, were witnesses to the marriage. Soon after their marriage, Bill and Doris welcomed a baby daughter to their family, Joyce Edith Ward was born on 19 February 1932 in Brighton, Sussex. Two years later, she was joined by a brother, David Frank Ward who was born on 20 June 1934 at 43 Robertson road, Brighton, Sussex. |
It was inevitable that Bill would be a railway worker, just like his father and grandfather before him. His wife’s father also worked on the railways, Edgar Woolven was tragically killed in 1940 when he was hit by an electric train. In 1939, Bill and Doris were living at 3 Tower road, Worthing, Sussex and Bill’s occupation was recorded as Locomotive fitter and erector. Doris was at home with 7-year-old Joyce and 5-year-old David.
It was four years later before their third child arrived, Brian Frederick Ward was born on 27 October 1943 in Brighton, Sussex. |
Sixteen-year old David Ward was earning a living working as a travelling messenger on the railways when he married Eileen Mabel Wicks on 23 December 1950 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Brighton, Sussex. Eileen was working as a railway clerk, they were introduced by Eileen’s brother Ron. Both David and Eileen were living at 2 Hampstead road, Brighton, Sussex at the time of their marriage. Shortly after their marriage, David entered the Royal Air Force as a trainee policeman. He left the service on 1 February 1955 and began working in the timber industry.
In 1954, Joyce married Bernard Leslie Bond. Les was born in Wales and had spent some years travelling the world as a ship’s fireman. Les and Joyce settled in Brighton, close to her parents and had two children, Peter Graham and Valerie Joy. Brian Ward married Rosemary Ann Cresswell on 26 October 1963 in Brighton, Sussex. They were later to divorce. Brian and Rosemary had one daughter, Julie Ann. Julie lived with her grandparents Bill and Doris Ward for much of her early life. |
David Ward found his work in the timber industry very seasonal and struggled to make a regular income to support Eileen and their four young children. In 1966, David saw an advertisement for sponsored work in Australia. Just six weeks after applying for sponsorship they received word that had been accepted and were very soon on their way to Adelaide, South Australia. On 4 January 1967, the family left a cold, wintry England and endured a long, difficult flight, stopping at Kuwait and Colombo in blistering heat. From there they had a brief stop in Darwin, on to Sydney and finally to Adelaide. After some weeks at a stifling hot immigration hostel in Manor Farm, the family eventually settled in Salisbury East. David’s job with furniture manufacturers Cox Foys didn’t work out but he was able to gain employment with Cowell’s Bros, a timber company in Port Adelaide. Eileen had casual work as an office cleaner. Three years later David and Eileen added two more children to their family with the birth of twins in September 1970.
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It was difficult for Bill and Doris knowing that they might not see their son and his children again but Doris kept up a regular correspondence from their home at 6B Rugby road, Brighton with Eileen and they exchanged photographs and the occasional telephone call.
Bill’s health started to deteriorate in the early 1980’s, he suffered from Glaucoma and thrombosis. His eyesight got steadily worse and he also began to lose his hearing. He suffered some mini-strokes that affected his memory as well. Doris very patiently cared for him at home, with the help of Joyce and Brian.
Bill’s health started to deteriorate in the early 1980’s, he suffered from Glaucoma and thrombosis. His eyesight got steadily worse and he also began to lose his hearing. He suffered some mini-strokes that affected his memory as well. Doris very patiently cared for him at home, with the help of Joyce and Brian.
William Frank Ward died on 24 February 1984 at Brighton General Hospital, Sussex from bronchopneumonia at the age of 79 years. He was buried in Preston Park Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex.
Doris remained in their home after Bill’s death and took a lot of pride in her garden. She grew a lot of her own vegetables and the rest of the garden was a mass of colourful flowers. She also took a lot of joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, those near and those far away. Doris Ellen Ward died from acute myeloid leukaemia on 29 April in Brighton General Hospital, Sussex at the age of 82 years. She was buried with her beloved Bill in Preston Park Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex. |
Descendants of William Frank Ward
William Frank Ward was born on 6 July 1904 in Ashford, Kent, England and died on 24 February 1984 in Brighton, Sussex, England at age 79 years. William married Doris Ellen Woolven on 25 December 1931 in Brighton, Sussex. Doris was born on 6 May 1912 in Brighton, Sussex, England and died on 29 April 1994 in Brighton, Sussex, England at age 82 years. They had three children: Joyce Edith, David Frank and Brian Frederick.
- Joyce Edith Ward was born on 19 February 1932 in Brighton, Sussex and died on 29 March 2015 in England at age 83 years. Joyce married Bernard Leslie Bond in June quarter 1954 in Brighton, Sussex. Les was born on 19 April 1922 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales and died in December quarter 1993 in Brighton, Sussex at age 71 years. They had two children: Peter Graham and Valerie Joy.
- David Frank Ward was born on 20 June 1934 in Brighton, Sussex and died on 16 March 2015 at Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, South Australia at age 80 years. David married Eileen Mabel Wicks on 23 December 1950 in Brighton, Sussex. Eileen was born on 3 February 1932 in Sompting, Sussex and died on 4 September 1986 in Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia at age 54 years. They had six children: Ann Patricia, Anthony David, Philip John, Michael James, Colin Paul and Christine Mary.
- Brian Frederick Ward was born 27 October 1943 in Brighton, Sussex. Brian married Rosemary Ann Cresswell on 26 October 1963. They had one daughter: Julie Ann (Danielle).