The son of Walter and Alice Ward, Cyril was born in Wolverhampton on 7 January 1900. In 1900, they were living at the back of 56 Newhampton Road West, along with Cyril’s sister, Mabel. They were at 370 Newhampton Road West by 1900, with Cyril’s siblings Fred, Mabel, Violet, Hector, Leslie, Thomas and Olive.

On 8 July 1915, Cyril enlisted in the 3/6th South Staffordshire Regiment (number 4483), when his address was given as 144 Sweetman Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton. He was discharged on 9 August 1915 “having been irregularly enlisted”, presumably because he was only 15 years old at the time. On 18 April 1916, Cyril started work as an Engine Cleaner for the Great Western Railway at Wolverhampton. He left on 6 May 1916. He later worked for a butcher, Mr Tandy, in Tettenhall.

When he was older, Cyril enlisted first in the Notts and Derby Regiment (number 8829), before transferring to the 10th Battalion of the Essex Regiment (number 44708). He was wounded and killed in action on 27 August 1918. An article about him in the Midland Counties Express on 26 October 1918 stated that he had not been at the Front more than a fortnight before his death. He is buried at the Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France.