John William Oliver Ward was born on 13^th April 1915 in Killough, County Down. His father, John Percy, had been a career soldier and had married a local girl, Gertrude Wylie in 1914 before re-enlisting into the Royal Field Artillery and serving in the Great War.

John William followed in his father’s footsteps and enlisted into the Royal Field artillery in the early 1930s. At the outbreak of war it is likely that John was already serving with the 25^th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery who were based in India.

In June 1942, John and the 25^th Field Regiment were at the Gazala line at Tobruk in North Africa. Between 17^th and 21^st June, the Second Battle of Tobruk took place where the Axis forces recaptured Tobruk from the Allies taking 33,000 prisoners as the garrison surrendered.

A casualty report dated 7^th August 1942 recorded that Battery Sergeant Major J W O Ward had been reported missing since the 20^th June 1942. A subsequent report in October confirmed that he had been taken prisoner. John, along with many others, was taken across the Mediterranean and imprisoned in POW camps in Italy.  

John was initially held at POW Camp 65, Gravina Altamura which was near Taranto in southern Italy. In September 1943, Italy signed the Armistice of Cassibile and Allied forces made landings at Salerno and Taranto. Meanwhile the German army had retreated northwards and had taken their prisoners with them. From the records available, it appears that John managed to escape during the retreat and was at large in the countryside in late 1943 and early 1944. Ill equipped for the winter conditions, John died of exposure sometime between 1^st and 9^th January 1944.

John is buried at Ancona War Cemetery in Italy – the only man from the 25^th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery there.

At the time of John’s death, his parents and siblings were living at Wood View on Bredfield Road, Melton.