Military Figure. He gained recognition as a British Army officer who served as the Permanent Secretary of the War Office. With his organizational skills, he reformed the army's administration, improving the efficacy of mobilization of medical services and supplies. Born the only son into a military family, he was commissioned in the 2nd Royal Lanarkshire Militia in December of 1873, beginning his military career. After resigning his commission, he was promoted in 1876 to Assistant Commissary. In January of 1880, he became the Deputy Assistant Commissary-General in the newly organized department of Commissariat and Transport Staff. In April of 1885, he was promoted to the military rank of captain. He was deployed, traveling up the Nile River with the Gordon Relief Expedition, and shortly after, in December of 1885, he reached the rank of major. In December of 1888, his department was changed to The Royal Army Service Corps, and he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. He served in West Africa from 1895 to 1896. During the Boer War from 1899, he proved to be a great value in distributing medical supplies. For this accomplishment, he received the Most Honourable Order of the Bath on November 29, 1900. At that point, he was made Permanent Under-secretary at the War Office under Secretary St John Brodrick. After retiring from the Army, Ward joined the staff of the War Office, becoming Permanent-under-Secretary. During World War I, he was appointed Director General of Voluntary Organizations in 1915. The same year, he was elevated to the baronetage as the 1st Baronet of Wilbraham Place. In 1919, he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. After the war, in retirement, he became Commander-in-Chief of the Special Constables. He died suddenly while visiting Paris, and his wife followed in death two years later. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Captain Edward Simons Ward, as the 2nd Baronet, and two years later, after the eldest son's death, to a younger son, Melville Willis Ward, as the 3rd Baronet.