8th December 2015 William Ward had been a cabinet maker, upholsterer and councillor in Stamford and his brother, Thomas Jeffery Ward was an architect and land surveyor. Thomas and his wife Eliza (née Gutteridge) occupied 8 rooms at 6 Ironmonger Street. Thomas & Eliza had no children of their own but were providing accommodation for William’s grandson, 13 year old Robert Henry Ward who was a schoolboy. Robert was born in Sandy, Bedfordshire, where his father was a butcher. He was the eldest of 7 children. 6 Ironmonger Street Additions from a family member Robert and his family moved to Woodford, Northants, in about 1909. Robert stayed with his uncle in Stamford while he attended Stamford School. When he left school he became an agricultural student, first in Stanwick, Northants, then at Ingthorpe, between Great Casterton and Tinwell. Robert’s Military Records have come to light and the Editors have also had access to letters he wrote home to his mother from 1915 to 1918 which she copied into notebooks. These have meant that Robert’s military career can now be recorded in some detail. He joined the East Midland Brigade Reserve Territorials early in the war on 31st Dec 1914 but, as he was an agricultural student, he had a Protection Order and stayed at home initially. He gave his age as 19 years although he was really not quite 17. He was 5’6” and his fitness was A1. By July 1915, he was a member of the ASC stationed at Sopwell Hall, a Horse Transport training centre. On 27th July 1915 he joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and embarked on the ship Grampian as part of a small advance group from the Battalion heading for Gallipoli. They called at Alexandria briefly arriving at Gallipoli on 5th August. He was involved in front-line fighting and took part in the landing on Suvla Beach. He survived and returned to Alexandria in December. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star. He continued to serve as a Horse Transport Driver, in the 54th Division of East Midland Brigade, in Egypt and Palestine defending the Suez Canal then advancing slowly against the Ottoman Turks. He saw the Sphinx, the Pyramids, parts of the Holy Land and a great deal of the desert as they moved east and north. He had short leaves in Cairo which he enjoyed. In 1918 he was in the process of training for a commission in an infantry unit when the Turks were defeated shortly before the end of the War. He returned to England having spent 3½ years away from home and was demobbed in February 1919. His character on discharge was given as “Sobriety Perfect; Reliable; Intelligent”. Robert married Evelyn Eayrs of Great Casterton in 1921 and soon after they moved to Daventry Farm, Woodford, first renting then buying the farm where he lived until he retired in 1960. During WW2 Robert was active in the Home Guard attaining the rank of Lt Colonel in command of the 3rd Battalion Northants Regiment Home Guard. He was a keen shot and constructed a rifle range on the farm. He won many competitions. Robert and Evelyn had 5 children. One of their sons, Michael, taught for many years at Stamford School where he also ran the school rifle club. Their daughter, Gillian, became Matron at Stamford Hospital. Cairo, Aug 1917 Christmas Dinner 1916 Home Guard (LDV) 1940s