WARD, Gordon Hutton

Gordon was one of six sons born to Joseph and Christina Ward of Bundarra.  The family had several properties in the district. Gordon’s birth in 1895 was registered at Inverell where he later attended school. He was a member of the Cadets before enlisting at Armidale NSW in June 1917.

He was given a ‘send-off’ at the Bundarra School of Arts before leaving Australia with the 7th Light Horse Regiment, 33rd Reinforcement on the ship SS Canberra in November 1917. He arrived at Suez at the end of December and went into camp at Moascar. During 1918 Gordon had several bouts of illness, including malaria which subsequently led to his death from pneumonia on 1 November 1918.  Private Gordon Ward was buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Palestine.

At Bundarra Gordon’s name is inscribed on the town’s War Memorial, unveiled by his Mother in 1918.  His brothers Jack, Alexander and James also served overseas and his younger brother Harry had not long enlisted when Gordon died. Their names are also recorded on the Howell Public School Roll of Honour.

Image: Courtesy IDFHG