243246 Spr. James Ward Royal Engineers 303 Road Construction Coy. from:Bury, Lancs My Great Uncle James Ward joined the WW1 Army Reserves in 1915 as a reservist in the Lancashire Fusiliers but was quickly attached to the 336th Road Construction Company and in 1917 left Southampton for Le Havre. Formerly a civilian labourer according to his enlistment papers he had in fact been a night soil man (emptying domestic latrines) just prior to joining up. It could be that his 23/- a week (£75 by today's money) was less attractive than the Army pay under those circumstances! Prior to his discharge he was back on home shores serving with the 303rd RCC and was now a Sapper (Pavior). Interestingly, three of his brothers, as well as his father, had all been (and remained) road pavers, which may well have influenced the army decision?Apart from losing a day's pay for insubordination (disrespectful language) in 1917, to an NCO his record was complimentary and his character rated as 'proficient'. James survived the war intact.
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