Ward was born on 21 March 1899 in Darlington, Sydney, New South Wales.
He was the fourth child and oldest son born to Mary Ann (née Maher) and Edward James Ward; his father worked for the Sydney tramways.
His parents, born in Australia, were of Irish Catholic descent.
Ward began his education at the St Francis de Sales convent school, later attending the Cleveland Street Public School and the Crown Street Public School.
He left school at the age of 14 and worked variously as a fruit-picker, printer's devil, tarpaulin-maker, and as a clerk at a hardware store.
He eventually found work at the Eveleigh Railway Workshops, but was sacked for his involvement in the 1917 general strike.
During the 1920s, Ward worked on the tramways as a labourer and chainman.
He supplemented his income by boxing professionally.
He married Edith Bishop on 27 September 1924, with whom he had two children.

Ward joined the Labor Party at the age of 16, and became the president of its Surry Hills branch.
He served as campaign director for Jack Beasley at the 1929 federal election.
The following year, he was elected to the Sydney Municipal Council as the alderman for Flinders Ward.
He served on the council's committees for works, electricity, and health.
Ward was born on 21 March 1899 in Darlington, Sydney, New South Wales. He was the fourth child and oldest son born to Mary Ann (née Maher) and Edward James Ward; his father worked for the Sydney tramways. His parents, born in Australia, were of Irish Catholic descent. Ward began his education at the St Francis de Sales convent school, later attending the Cleveland Street Public School and the Crown Street Public School. He left school at the age of 14 and worked variously as a fruit-picker, printer's devil, tarpaulin-maker, and as a clerk at a hardware store. He eventually found work at the Eveleigh Railway Workshops, but was sacked for his involvement in the 1917 general strike. During the 1920s, Ward worked on the tramways as a labourer and chainman. He supplemented his income by boxing professionally. He married Edith Bishop on 27 September 1924, with whom he had two children.
Ward joined the Labor Party at the age of 16, and became the president of its Surry Hills branch. He served as campaign director for Jack Beasley at the 1929 federal election. The following year, he was elected to the Sydney Municipal Council as the alderman for Flinders Ward. He served on the council's committees for works, electricity, and health.
Eddie Ward