John George Ward | |
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Birth name | John George Ward |
Born |
Kings Norton, Birmingham |
15 December 1918
Died | 29 August 1995 London, South West |
(aged 76)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1937–47 |
Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
Service number | 542939 |
Unit |
No. 226 Squadron RAF Polish Home Army |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards |
Military Cross Krzyż Walecznych |
John Ward, MC, (15 December 1918 – 29 August 1995) was a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force decorated twice for bravery. During World War II he was a member of a bomber crew shot down and taken POW but escaped and served as a BBC war correspondent behind enemy lines and fought with the Polish resistance Armia Krajowa (Home Army) participating in the Warsaw Uprising in occupied Poland being wounded in action against the SS controlled German forces.
Ward was born in December 1918 the Kings Norton district of Birmingham and grew up in the nearby suburb of Ward End, Birmingham where he was educated at the local council school.
He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1937 aged 18, as an Aircraftman 2nd class, to train for aircrew as a wireless operator/air gunner and by 1939 was serving with No. 226 Squadron RAF based at RAF Upper Heyford. On 2 September 1939 the squadron was part of the RAF contingent which moved to France ready for war. Under the Advanced Air Striking Force it was based at Rheims.
Ward was an Aircraftman 1st class and member of the crew of a No. 226 Squadron RAF Fairey Battle light bomber (serial number "K9183") on 10 May 1940 when it was shot down by the Luftwaffe during the Fall of France.