Ward family, South-street Maltings, Bishop's Stortford, early 1900s

[Smilingwillowb]

I've come across a curious little newspaper report, relating to the Anglo-Boer War, and wondered if anyone could help flesh it out.

"Sergt. E. Ward, of the Cape Mounted Police, son of Mr. Henry Ward, of the South-street Maltings, Bishop Stortford, has returned home on furlough. He was wounded by bullets in the thigh and body at Tweebosch. He has brought home with him a seven-year-old Kaffir boy. Sergt. Ward lost a brother in the war."
[Essex County Chronicle, Friday 27th June 1902]

Did the boy remain in this country, at least through to the 1911 census? It's possible that E. Ward returned to South Africa at the end of his furlough, taking the boy back with him.

[Milliepede]

has returned home on furlough.

What does on furlough mean?

I don't suppose we know what E stands for 

[Smilingwillowb]

'On furlough' means that he had returned home on leave. With the war having just ended earlier that month, it's not certain that he would have returned to South Africa.

The only E. Ward that was in the Cape (Mounted) Police at that time appears to be Edward Ward, who had joined in August 1897.

[hanes teulu]

Another newspaper report identifies him as "Frank E. Ward"

[hanes teulu]

FindMyPast

F E Ward, Sergeant, No 261, 2nd District Cape Police

There is a lengthy description of the engagement he was involved in.

[hanes teulu]

Frank E Ward was "wounded dangerously on 7 Mar 1902 at De Klipdrift"

[JJen]

Another newspaper article has him as Francis E Ward an 'old Bedford boy'

JJ

[Smilingwillowb]

Ward Frank Edward 261 Private QSA (4)
 Source: List of QSAs with the clasp Defence of Kimberley

QSA is the Queen's South Africa Medal, and (4) means, I think, that the medal had four clasps, indicating the major actions that he'd taken part in during the war.

[chempat]

?
Frank Edward Ward
Baptised   7th July 1875 at Ware, Hertfordshire 
Father:Henry Ward    Mother: Annie Hudson