Source: April 1918 casualty.
Note that this soldier enlisted under aged. He was born in 1900 according to his records.
This soldier, reg. no. 880417, enlisted at Chatham, Ontario on March 6, 1916, with the 186th Overseas Battalion. His trade was as a farmer, and he was 18-years old at the time of his attestation according to his attestation papers. However, he was born in 1900, and was thus, under aged for enlistment with the CEF. He listed his brother, John, of London, England, as his next-of-kin.
He served in Canada until his unit sailed on March 28, 1917, aboard the SS Lapland. He arrived in England at Liverpool on April 7, 1917, and was transferred to the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Bramshott.
On August 24, 1917, he was transferred to the 18th Battalion and arrived at No. 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, France on the very next day. After a short stay at this base, he was moved up into the line and arrived “in the field” with the 18th Battalion on September 5, 1917.
He served with the Battalion without interruption until he was granted 14-days leave to the United Kingdom starting on February 28, 1918.
Returning from leave Private Ward served faithfully until killed in action on April 5, 1918, at Neuville-Vitasse, France, a result from German trench raid in the morning.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 