WARD, James, Alec, Jack and Henry

James, Alex, Jack and Henry were the sons of Joseph and Christina Ward of Bundarra.

James, who had served eighteen months with the 5th Light Horse, was the first of the brothers to enlist. At the age of twenty-eight he became a Gunner with the Field Artillery Brigade 1 and sailed from Australia for Egypt on the transport A8 Argyllshire in October 1914. He served at Gallipoli and was sent to France in March 1916. Three months later he was appointed Bombardier, rising to Sergeant by the end of 1916. He was transferred to the 1st Brigade and in July 1917 wounded in action. He was sent to England for treatment for shell shock. James returned to Australia and was medically discharged in September 1918.

Alec, who had been living in Inverell, enlisted at Liverpool NSW in March 1915 when he was twenty-five. He joined the 7th Light Horse Regiment and sailed from Australia on HMAT A51 Chilka in June 1915. After arriving in Egypt, he served at Gallipoli and in 1917 was appointed Lance Corporal. The following year he became a Corporal, then Sergeant. He returned to Australia and was medically discharged in August 1919. Before the War, Alec had served 3 years with the 6th Australian Light Horse at Inverell.

Jack was twenty-three when he enlisted at Liverpool in September 1915. He joined the 7th Light Horse Regiment, 9th Reinforcement and sailed from Australia for Egypt on HMAT A8 Argyllshire in September 1915. He served in Egypt and was appointed Acting Corporal in July 1917. A month later he was admitted to hospital suffering from malaria. Jack returned to Australia and was medically discharged in January 1920. Before the War he had been a member of the Bundarra Rifle Club.

Henry was just eighteen years old when he enlisted in Sydney in October 1918. He had served four years with the Cadets. Due to the end of the War, he was discharged in December 1918.

The brothers have their names inscribed on the Bundarra Obelisk, unveiled by their Mother in 1918 and on the Howell Public School Roll of Honour. Their brother Gordon died in Palestine during the War.