John Ward

With the Die-hards in Siberia (Illustrated Edition) (Dodo Press) John Ward Illustrated, Ill edition

Lieutenant-Colonel John Ward CB CMG (1866-1934) was an English politician, trade union leader and soldier. In 1885, he enlisted in the British Army and served in the Sudan campaign, where he worked on the uncompleted military railway from Suakin to Berber. He became increasingly interested in politics and in 1886 joined the new Social Democratic Federation. When the First World War broke out in 1914, he rejoined the Army. He recruited five labour battalions and raised and became commanding officer of a pioneer battalion, the 25th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (known as "The Navvies' Battalion" and later as the "Die-Hards"), with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He commanded the battalion in France for a short period, but was then ordered to the Far East and then to Siberia to support the White forces of Admiral Kolchak during the Russian Civil War. They were originally only intended for garrison duty, but soon found themselves in the field. He was instrumental in saving the lives of the Directorate of Five whom Kolchak replaced. His book about these events, With the "Die-Hards" in Siberia, was published in 1920, shortly after his return to England.