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My great grandmother Jane Ford (1852 - 1934) had five sons and ten daughters. These are the stories of her sons in WWI and how it affected the family.
George William Reynolds Ford:
Born 1878, died 10th August 1915.
Shown as a "farmer's plough boy age 12" on the 1891 census. He married Ethel Wright (she may have been the sister of his neighbour William Wright, but this is not certain). They had five children and lived in Upper Stratton.
In the war he served with the 5th battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment), and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery in the Battle of the Dardanelles on the 10th August 1915. He rescued his friend and next-door neighbour Mr Wright, although he died of his wounds. (Mr Wright also died of his wounds).
The citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry on the 10th August 1915, near Cunick Bar on the Gallipoli Peninsular, when the 5th Wiltshire Regiment advanced at a disadvantage, Serjeant Ford displayed great skill and bravery in sustaining rapid fire until severely wounded". His widow received the DCM at Reading from Major General W G B Western, CB.
Serjeant Ford was also mentioned in dispatches for bravery and gallant conduct.
His memorial is at Helles Memorial; ref Panel 156 to 158.
Francis John (Jack) Ford
Born 1880, died 1st November 1914
He married Sophie and they had two children Harold and Dorothy. They moved to Weymouth.
Leading Seaman Jack Ford died when his ship HMS Good Hope (a heavy cruiser) went down with all hands at the Battle of Coromel on Sunday 1st November 1914, off the coast of Chile.
One hour into the battle the ship was struck by a shell, and exploded. This was the first major sea battle of WWI.
Leading Seaman Ford's name is on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Ref 1.
Herbert Charles Ford.
Born 7.1.1882, died 19th May 1969
Joined the 5th Wiltshire Regiment in 1898 for the Boer War. In 1900 - 1902 he was in South Africa, then went with the regiment to India for eight years.
The regiment moved back to South Africa and was disbanded.
He then went to New Zealand and in 1914 enlisted as sergeant to train N Z troops.
They sailed to the UK and had just one week training on Salisbury Plain before being sent to France. The regiment was badly out-gunned, and had to have replacement troops. They were sent to the front, to the trenches.
Charlie was awarded five medals, including the 1914-15 star. He was wounded in the foot, and sent to England to recover.
He then returned to N Z where he married Mary Louise Ainslie in 1916 and had five children; Lily Rose, Charles Thomas, Miriam May, and Joy Rhyl.
Wilfred Walter Ernest Ford
Born 1886, died 1978
In the 1901 census he is described as "Striker, age 15; GWR works".
Was refused war service owing to health reasons. He had a weak chest.
Archibald Edgar Thomas Ford
Born 20.11.1887, died 31st May 1945
Served in the war with The Royal Engineers at The Somme, and Ypres.
Married Susannah Strange in 1910 and had four children.
After the war he returned to Swindon, and worked in the Great Western Railway Company until his death in 1945.
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