FORD, JOHN W ("Billy" or "Will")
Photograph with kind permission from the Uttoxeter Advertiser
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CWGC |
SDGW |
Uttoxeter Advertiser |
Other |
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Parents |
Amos and Elizabeth Ison Ford |
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Where born |
Alton, Staffordshire |
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Yes |
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When born |
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Address |
Wife: 11, Brookside, Uttoxeter |
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Parents: Alton, Staffordshire |
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Spouse |
Annie E. Ford |
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Children |
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Employment Before Joining up |
Employed as a Monumental Mason by Messrs. Peter Ford and Sons. |
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Where enlisted |
Uttoxeter |
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Yes |
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Regiment |
Royal Engineers |
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Corps of Royal Engineers |
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Yes |
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Unit |
144th Army Troops Coy. |
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Rank |
Sapper |
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Yes |
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Service Number |
35943 |
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Yes |
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Date of Death |
16 April 1918 |
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Yes |
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Age at time of death |
43 |
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Where Killed or died |
Hospital in Rouen, France |
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How he died |
Died of wounds |
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Yes |
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Location of Grave or Memorial |
St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen Grave P. IX. P. 5A. |
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Awards |
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He was described as an old Volunteer and before the war he was an ardent footballer, demonstrating 'plenty of dash and spirit'. He was well-known in the district as the centre-half for Oldfields from the beginning of the club.
He joined up in 1914 and was described as 'just the type of man who would revel in a fight with the Hun'.
Coincidentally, Private W. Moore was a workmate, and they both lost their lives within a few days of one another.
In August 1917 the Uttoxeter Advertiser reported the fact that he had been part of a small detachment of men sent from his company to carry out some special work. Coincidentally, the man in charge turned out to be Corporal Carter, who lived in the same street in Uttoxeter. Sapper Ford wrote home to say that they had had the pleasure of meeting one another!
The work was inspected personally by General Sir Douglas Haig, who left them with the following complimentary remarks: “Well, my men, you are carrying out great work here – very great and useful work. Carry on with it.”.
During the second week of April 1918 it was reported that Billy Ford had been wounded, along with a number of other men from Uttoxeter, in recent severe fighting. He had been taken to a French hospital.
The following week it was reported that he was still in hospital in France and that he was suffering from abdominal wounds. He was progressing as satisfactorily as could be expected.
The week after that, he died.
He left a wife and four children.
This notice was posted in the Uttoxeter Advertiser in April 1919 to mark the first anniversary of his death |
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