William Arthur Bayford Kirwan Ward, born on 14th June 1888, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1903, having transferred from Dover College where he had been a Scholarship student. He lived with his family at 255, Bearwood Road, Smethwick; his father, the Reverend William Hallowes Kirwan Ward, was a Clerk in Holy Orders.
William was in the Fourth Class of the Classical School, studying a primarily classical, rather than scientific, curriculum. He was placed just below average overall in his class, but came top of his mathematics set, B IV. After leaving School, he moved to London and was employed as an electrical engineer.
William had been a Second Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers, Territorial Force since June 1914, and was attached to the 5 Corps Headquarters Signal Company from January to June 1915. He served in France and Flanders with the Company throughout the Second Battle of Ypres, for which he was mentioned in despatches. William was then transferred to the General Headquarters Staff in Gallipoli, and was mortally wounded on 1st August 1915 whilst on duty in the signal office on Cape Helles. He died the next day and was buried at sea. William was promoted to Lieutenant at some point in his military career, though the exact date is unknown. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, and he left his estate of £195 to his father.