[citation needed] Ward travelled to the United Kingdom in 1944 with his mother and elder brother – a five-week journey by sea, avoiding the U-boat threat.

[6][7] Ward, flying Sea Harrier XZ451/006, was leading a division of three aircraft launched to carry out combat air patrol over the Falkland Sound, southwest of San Carlos Water.

Two Pucara ground-attack aircraft operating from Goose Green at low level were detected by the air defence controller in HMS Brilliant.

One of the Pucaras was attacked from abeam by the two Sea Harriers flown by Lieutenant Stephen Thomas and Alisdair Craig but evaded being hit.

Simultaneously, Ward attacked Major Carlos Tomba's aircraft from behind with his ADEN cannon, setting the starboard engine on fire and damaging the port aileron.

[7][8] Later that same day Ward, in Sea Harrier ZA175, and his wingman, Stephen Thomas, were carrying out a low-level combat air patrol to the west of San Carlos over the land.

Whist this dog fight was going on, a fourth Dagger had evaded intercept and had attacked the air defence control ship Brilliant: fortunately with little damage.

[citation needed] Ward, in Sea Harrier XZ451, and Steve Thomas were in the climb returning to Invincible after combat air patrol when they were alerted by HMS Minerva to an intermittent radar contact 40 miles to the northwest.

Ward immediately led his wingman in a hard turn towards the reported contact position and detected a large aircraft target on his Blue Fox radar, at 38 miles and 4,000 feet below.

Ward then fired 240 rounds from his Harrier's two ADEN cannons and this action caused the enemy aircraft to lose control, sending it crashing into the sea and killing the seven crew members.

[citation needed] After retiring from the Royal Navy in 1985, Ward wrote the book Sea Harrier Over the Falklands: A Maverick at War, first published in 1992.