 He was at the University of New England as a lecturer (1957) and deputy chancellor for eight years.During World War II he served in an army psychological unit.Ward's membership of the Communist Party of Australia (1941 to 1949) brought him to the attention of ASIO; and, in 1984, he appeared before the Hope Royal Commission on Australia's security and intelligence agencies stating that ASIO had harassed him for 40 years.