According to his son, Frank worked at a number of jobs, including in a brewery and an iron smelterhouse in Bristol – then, some time after his marriage to Rhoda in 1903 and the birth of their first child, Frank, in March 1904, he walked to London. Initially he worked for Rhoda’s uncle Isaac Snary who was a gas fitter.  In 1904 Frank joined the police force, where he was stationed in Albany St, Regents Park.  [Note: according to the article written about him (see below) Frank told the reporter that he walked to London in 1901 to look for work.  Perhaps he went alone in the first instance and worked for Isaac Snary, then returned to marry Rhoda a couple of years later.]

His police records (source MEPO 4 National Archives) state that his initial examination took place on 1 nov 1904 when he was aged 24 yrs.  His residence at the time was 38 Willow Grove, Plaistow and he was married with one child.  His previous employer was Mr Snary also of 38 Willow Grove and he was a labourer.  He was 5’9” tall, 12st 6lbs, chest 37”, complexion fresh, eyes brown, hair brown, no particular marks.  He was appointed to S Division on 30 Jan 1905 and his service number was 91455.

When he transferred to Hampstead Police Station, he was one of the first policemen to patrol with a woman police officer.  He was one of a number of police officers who were discharged from the Force for joining in the (illegal) police strike in 1918. His date of dismissal was 2 aug 1919. This left him and the family in severe financial difficulties – the Secretary General of the Police Union wrote to him in 1920.  Subsequently he found work as an insurance agent and as a debt collector, then as a commissionaire, and was a well known and popular figure in Hampstead.  Throughout his life, Frank was involved in local politics and was a lifelong Socialist and Trade Union supporter - his son recalls travelling by tram to Hyde Park Corner with his father where Frank rallied support for strikers at Speakers Corner. At some point, he stood as a Labour Councillor in Hampstead .  An interesting article about him, entitled ‘Frank Ward, the laughing policeman 1880-1975’ by Eric George, was published in the Camden History Review, 6, 1978

The photo above almost certainly shows Frank Ward as a young man,

but it does not look like Rhoda standing next to him - from her hands and

hair she looks much too old - perhaps it is Mrs Grainger?

Frank died on 28 jul 1975 at his home in Hampstead at the age of 95, having discharged himself from hospital.  The local newspaper published an article about him, headed ‘Grand Old Man of Hampstead’.  On his will, he wrote a very touching ‘thank you’ to his family for their care and devotion. . His occupation was given as ‘commissionaire (retired)’ and the cause of death was bronchopneumonia, carcinomatosis, carcinoma of gall bladder.  The death was reported by his son Harry.  (source death certificate).

Rhoda Snary

Born 23 june 1881 at 8 Langton Terrace, Bedminster.  Father Henry Snary, Ships Officer Cook, mother Eliza Snary (formerly Olpin). 

(source birth Certificate) After marrying Frank Ward in 1903, she came to live in London - at first they lived in St Pancras then at

9 Back Lane in Hampstead, where she and Frank raised their six children.  Rhoda died on 25 March 1961, at home  aged 79 years. 

For about Rhoda’s ancestry – see Snary family notes.

Frank and Rhoda Ward's children:

Frank Ward (b.12 mar 1904)  Frank and Rhoda’s first child was born at 3 Cotswold Road in Bedminster – at the time Frank was a railway platelayer (source birth certificate).  The family must have moved to London soon after Frank's birth.  Frank married Maggie Wytch and they had four daughters
Helen Ward (b 25 Nov 1906 at 26 Ampthill Square, d of Frank Ward (Metropolitan Police Constable no. 242 S Division) and Rhoda Emma Ward formerly Snary . The birth was not registered until 4 Jan 1907, at which time the family home was at 145 Hampstead Road, St Pancras (source birth Certificate).  Helen died on 27 Feb 1912 at 139 Whitehouse Lane, Bedminster aged 5 years.  She was described as the daughter of Frank Ward a Police Constable. The cause of death was Jacksonian Epilepsy 1 day and the death was reported by her aunt Ellen Taylor present at the death, of 139 Whitehouse Lane. (source Death Certificate) Helen was buried at Arnos Vale Cemetery in the Snary family grave on 3rd March 1912 in plot number JJ-195 (source Arnos Vale records)
Harry Ward born 18 jan 1909 in St Pancras (source birth certificate) never married. Harry worked for the Medical Research Council at their laboratories in Holly Hill in Hampstead.  He was awarded the MBE in recognition of 50 years contribution to medical research, following his retirement.  After their father’s death Harry and his sister Beattie bought a bungalow in St Teath, Cornwall where they lived happily for many years – Harry died in August 1989 aged 80 yrs.
Elsie Ward born 18 jan 1909 (Harry’s twin) married Dick Allen, a train driver (he worked on the Flying Scotsman) and they had three children, Richard, Barbara and Leslie.  (The photo shows twins Harry and Elsie)
Leonard Ward born 4 sep 1913 in Hampstead,  married Mary Susan Green in 1940, died 23 oct 2007 in Cornwall.  (The photo shows Len with his beloved Austin 7 in about 1838)
Alice Ward (1915) married Frank Worrell and they had two sons and two daughters (photo shows Alice, Beat and Harry)
Beattie Ward born 8 Jan 1919 (source birth certificate) never married. Beattie died in Cornwall in Jan 1997 at the age of 78. (photo shows Beat on the right, with a neighbour from Back Lane)
	this photo shows Frank, Rhoda, Doris Monks?, Elsie, a neighbour, Len's wife Mary and Beat, with Elsie's son Richard in the front of the photo.

Next generation