The story of the last Leeds soldier to receive the Victoria Cross in person from Queen Victoria
“I managed to trace his medal group which was sold in 1976 at Sotheby’s and has been privately held for 50 years”
His story is one of bravery, valour and courage under fire.
Charles Ward was a south Leeds lad from Hunslet who served with The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the Second Boer War.
He received the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, in 1900, for an act of valour carried out during the conflict.
In June 1900 at Lindley, Kroonstad in Orange Free State a picquet of the Yorkshire Light Infantry was surrounded on three sides by about 500 Boers, at close quarters.
The two officers were wounded and all but six of their men were killed or wounded.
Private Ward then volunteered to take a message asking for reinforcements to the Signalling Station about 150 yards in the rear of the post.
His offer was at first refused owing to the practical certainty of his being shot; but, on his insisting, he was allowed to go.
He got across untouched through a storm of shots from each flank, and, having delivered his message, he voluntarily returned from a place of absolute safety, and recrossed the fire-swept ground to assure his Commanding Officer that the message had been sent.
On this occasion he was severely wounded. But for this gallant action the post would certainly have been captured.
Ward was the last recipient of the Victoria Cross to be honoured personally from Queen Victoria, a mere five weeks prior to her death in January 1901.
He is successfully treated for his injuries by Sir Berkeley Moynihan at Leeds General Infirmary. Berkeley’s father, Andrew Moynihan also received the VC. So, a unique coming together of a VC recipient being treated by the son of a VC recipient.
At the outbreak of WW1 he re-enlisted at the age of 38 and operated in recruitment and also drill instructing new recruits. He later achieved the rank of company sergeant major.
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A (silent) movie interview with Ward following his award of the VC was filmed by the Lancashire cinematographers Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon; sealed in steel barrels after their company went out of business in the 1920s, the 800 films of their archive were discovered during demolition work in 1994, and have now been restored by the British Film Institute.
In later life he was employed by Leeds Education Department as a PE/Drill instructor and went on to opened a corner shop on Church Street in Hunslet He married Emily Kaye and they had four children before moving to Cardiff. He passed away in 1921 aged 45 years.
Fast forward to 2026 and a special commemorative event celebrating the life and legacy of the soldier was held in Leeds city centre on the 150th anniversary of his birth.
It was the brainchild of Ronnie Walsh who discovered Ward’s extraordinary story while volunteering with the West Yorkshire Archive Service.
During research into historic Leeds General Infirmary patient records, Ronnie uncovered Ward’s medical notes and went on to organise the commemorative event which was held The Leeds Library. The event, which was sponsored by Hipco, featured a collection of historic artefacts, including Ward’s military tunic, personal scrapbook and Leeds General Infirmary medical records.
Ronnie said: “I managed to trace his medal group which was sold in 1976 at Sotheby’s and has been privately held for 50 years. I’ve researched everything about the gentleman from his military service to his civilian life. I managed to get images of the medal group from the current custodian to the family, some of Charles’s family have never ever seen his medal group until very recently which was something I’m quite proud of doing.”