Sir Edward Ward, 1st Baronet, of Wilbraham Place

"a Permanent Warrior". Caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1901.

Funerary monument, Brompton Cemetery, London

Colonel Sir Edward Willis Duncan Ward, 1st Baronet GBE KCB KCVO (17 December 1853–11 September 1928) was a British Army officer and military administrator, serving as Permanent Secretary of the War Office. He was a notable reformer of army administration, improving efficiency of mobilization, medical services and supplies.

Career

Ward was born in Oman in 1853, the only son of Captain John Ward, RN, by his wife Mary Hope Bowie.

He was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the 2nd Royal Lanarkshire Militia in December 1873, and transferred to the 2nd West India Regiment in February 1874. In April 1874 he transferred into the Control Department as a Sub-Assistant Commissary, transferring to the new Commissariat and Transport Department in 1875, although he did not resign his militia commission until December 1874. He was promoted Assistant Commissary in 1876. In January 1880 the department changed its name to the Commissariat and Transport Staff and Ward became a Deputy Assistant Commissary-General in the new organisation. In April 1885 Commissariat and Transport Staff officers were given honorary military rank and Ward also became a Captain. In December 1885 he was promoted to Assistant Commissary-General and Major. In December 1888 the department underwent yet another change, becoming the Army Service Corps, with its officers now holding full military rank. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1890 and Brevet Colonel in March 1898.

After the Siege of Ladysmith, Sir George White called him 'the greatest supply officer since Moses.'

He was a President of the Union Jack Club, and Chairman of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

He was created a Baronet, of Wilbraham Place, in 1914.

He died from food poisoning and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.

Family

In 1880 he married Florence Caroline Simons (1858–1934).

He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Captain Edward Simons Ward (1882–1930). Together with Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 3rd Marquess of Dufferin and Ava and Viscountess Ednam, he died when their aeroplane returning to London from Le Touquet exploded in midair at Meopham, Kent.

Captain Ward was succeeded in the baronetcy by his younger brother, Melvill Willis Ward (1885–1973), as the 3rd Baronet. The title became extinct on his death.

Decorations

• Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) 1886
• Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) 29 November 1900, in recognition of services in connection with the Campaign in South Africa 1899-1900
• Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) 1907
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) 1919

References

• Find-a-grave