Bernard John Hamilton Ward

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Captain (retired) Bernard John Hamilton Ward, O.B.E., R.N. (13 March, 1875 – 20 September, 1938) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Stoneham, the son of a Lieutenant-Colonel.

Ward was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 22 June, 1897.

Ward was appointed in command of the destroyer Greyhound on 10 December, 1903.[1]

Ward was commended for his admirable handling of Roebuck as he rendered assistance to the grounded Arab, sometime during 1905. His next appointment was to King Alfred, where he served as first Lieutenant from 1 January 1906 until she paid off on 15 January, 1908. He then spent four months as first lieutenant in Swiftsure, being then promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1908. Perhaps while he was in Swiftsure, an A.B. named Symonds was killed in a winch accident, and it was found that Ward could have issued more detailed instructions.

He was appointed in command of the gunboat Foxhound on 21 August, 1911.[2] He grounded her, and received the displeasure of the Admiralty.

From 1913 until 1 February 1915, he served as Flag Commander to Admiral Lowry, in late 1914 being thanked for his clever ideas on methods he had adopted to deal with submarine attack. He then followed Admiral Lowry to a position providing extended defence to the Firth of Forth. On 21 March 1916, this position became a staff position under Admiral Lowry, with Ward serving with the rank of Acting Captain. This lasted through the end of the war. On 17 July 1919, Ward fell ill. A series of hospitalisations did not sufficiently restore his health.

Ward was placed on the Retired List as medically unfit with the rank of Captain on 8 October, 1920.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Charles M. Foot
Captain of H.M.S. Snapper
16 May, 1903 – 26 Jun, 1903
Succeeded by
Bernard J. H. Ward
Preceded by
John W. E. Townsend
Captain of H.M.S. Avon
27 Jun, 1903 – 14 Aug, 1903
Succeeded by
Charles E. Cundall
Preceded by
George L. Massey
Captain of H.M.S. Opossum
14 Aug, 1903 – 10 Dec, 1903
Succeeded by
George P. Leith
Preceded by
John F. E. Green
Captain of H.M.S. Greyhound
10 Dec, 1903[3] – 10 Jan, 1904[Inference]
Succeeded by
Wilmot S. Nicholson
Preceded by
Bernard J. H. Ward
Captain of H.M.S. Snapper
10 Jan, 1904[4] – 11 Oct, 1904
Succeeded by
Reginald C. L. Owen
Preceded by
Howard J. Kennard
Captain of H.M.S. Angler
9 Nov, 1904[5] – 30 Dec, 1904[6]
Succeeded by
John R. Corner
Preceded by
Colpoys C. Walcott
Captain of H.M.S. Hunter
3 Jan, 1905[7] – 23 May, 1905
Succeeded by
William J. Scott
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Rother
23 May, 1905 – 1 Aug, 1905
Succeeded by
William S. F. Forbes
Preceded by
Arthur S. Chambers
Captain of H.M.S. Roebuck
1 Aug, 1905[8] – 1 Jan, 1906
Succeeded by
Stanley V. Ellis
Preceded by
Arthur B. F. Dawson
Captain of H.M.S. Wolf
26 Jan, 1909[9] – 30 Apr, 1910
Succeeded by
Clive C. H. Maitland-Addison
Preceded by
Stuart D. Blair
Captain of H.M.S. Teazer
3 Apr, 1910 – 20 Jan, 1911
Succeeded by
Reginald H. Ransome
Preceded by
Thomas K. Maxwell
Captain of H.M.S. Conflict
27 Jan, 1911[10] – 21 Aug, 1911
Succeeded by
Francis R. Scarlett
Preceded by
Spencer F. Russell
Captain of H.M.S. Dasher
27 Mar, 1911 – 30 Mar, 1911
Succeeded by
Edward T. D. Finch
Preceded by
Arthur K. Macrorie
Captain of H.M.S. Foxhound
21 Aug, 1911[11] – 4 Nov, 1913
Succeeded by
William G. Howard

Footnotes

  1. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, 12 December, 1903. Issue 37262, col D, p. 9.
  2. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 317.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 12 December, 1903. Issue 37262, col D, p. 9.
  4. The Navy List. (October, 1904). p. 377.
  5. Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/98. f. 109.
  6. Ward Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/98. f. 109.
  7. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, December 24, 1904, Issue 37586, p.4.
  8. The Navy List. (November, 1905). p. 368.
  9. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 397a.
  10. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 295.
  11. The Navy List. (October, 1913). p. 317.