Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Before the War
Charles Arnold Ford was born on the 2nd of May 1899, in Adelaide, South Australia. At the time of enlistment, he was eighteen years old living in Sydney, New South Wales. He was of a medium built, had blue eyes, brown hair and was 5ft 6.5 in height. He was single and worked as a driver. Due to his age, he was most likely a delivery driver. Mrs Rosina Alice Ford, his mother, lived in Norwood, South Australia. He most likely lived by himself and the money he earned as a driver could have been all he lived off. He was a senior cadet for four years, meaning he had some military training experience before. This would have given him recent experience in weapon training and the discipline required to be in the military force.
 
During the War
Charles Arnold Ford enlisted on the 24th of September 1917 and was given the regimental number 51893. He was appointed to the 1st South Australian Reinforcements. From the 25th of September 1917 to the 26th of October 1917 he trained as a private, the location of this is unknown. Ford and most soldiers began training straight away so they could acquire the skills and mindsets they needed before an opportunity to go away and fight arrived. This would have been a time for him to bond with the men who could have fought alongside him.
 
From the 15th of December 1917 to the 9th of April 1918 it is not clear what Ford was doing. Time on the cruiser would have taught him how to use weapons whilst travelling on water. Ford went AWOL from the 8th of April to the 11th of April, he was fined 1 pound.
 
He embarked from Sydney on the 1st of May 1918. He was found breaking out of quarters from 8 pm to 11 pm on the 4th of June. He was punished with a 28-day detention. He was only eighteen and merely a young man. His curiosity may have led him to want to explore the ship and take a break from the strict rules he had to follow. This shows he may have not been very disciplined. These actions resulted in his punishment. He was struck off strength after failing to embark at Kingston, Jamaica. This may have been due to his detention time.
 
He travelled to New York on the Empress of Asia. He reached New York on the 14th of June 1918. On the 18th of June 1918, he was taken on strength and embarked on an unknown ship. On the 1st of July, he was admitted to the ship’s hospital. On the 2nd of July, he disembarked to a hospital in the United Kingdom. As he hadn’t fought in the war yet, his admission to the hospital may have been due to illness.
 
Charles Arnold Ford was allocated to the 10th Battalion in Sutton Veny on the 31st of August 1918. In Sutton Veny he participated in training but hadn’t had any experience fighting on a battlefield unlike many of the soldiers there. He may have been allocated to this location and battalion, as they were Australians and the closest group to his location after he was discharged from hospital.
 
The 9th of October to the 15th of October 1918, Ford was AWOL, resulting in forfeiture of fourteen days of pay. Ford was away for a number of days, meaning he may have decided to travel somewhere to take a break from training. He was AWOL on the 29th of October 1918 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, resulting in a forfeiture of four days of pay. As he had a history in going AWOL, his forfeiture amount may have been more than someone who didn’t have that history.
 
He travelled to Havre, France on the 7th of November 1918. On the 28th of November, he was released from a hospital in Havre, France. The reason he was admitted to the hospital is unknown, the cause would depend on when he needed to be admitted to hospital. It may have been because he caught Spanish influenza whilst in Sutton Veny. The influenza killed many soldiers in Sutton Veny around that time. It could have also possibly been due to an injury or illness he received whilst in Harve, France. On the 15th of March 1919, Ford detached to Base Rie Camp ex the 10th Battalion.
 
Ford travelled to England for his return to Australia on the 7th of June 1919. He was discharged from the AIF in Adelaide on the 2nd of September 1919, without having seen frontline service.
 
After the War
Charles was awarded the British War Memorial medal and Victory medal, which were given to all soldiers who served overseas during the war. His date of death is unknown.
 

Bibliography
National Archive Australia 2020, viewed 1 April 2020, <https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/defence-and-war-service-records>.
 
UNSW Australia 2016, viewed 1 April 2020, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/search>.
 
Sutton Veny 2020, viewed 1 April 2020, <https://suttonveny.co.uk/1st-world-war/>.
 
Australian War Memorial 2020, viewed 1 April 2020, <https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/glossary/r>.

Abbreviations and Glossary 2018, viewed 1 April 2020, <https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/rslvwm/comfy/cms/files/files/000/001/883/original/Abbrev___Glossary.pdf>.

World War 1 2016, viewed 1 April 2020, <http://www.empressofasia.com/ww1.htm>.

Private Arnold Charles "Charlie" Ford

2 February 1900 – 30 September 1977

Arnold Charles Ford, affectionately known as "Charlie", was born on 2 February 1900 at Kensington, South Australia. His birth was registered in the Norwood District. He was the son of William Henry Ford (1868–1951), born at Clunes, Victoria, and Rosina Alice Ford (née Papworth) (1868–1958), a native of Adelaide.

As a teenager during the First World War, Arnold volunteered for military service with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). He enlisted at Sydney, New South Wales, on 24 September 1917 and was allocated Regimental Number 51893. Although his enlistment papers recorded his age as 18 years and 4 months, his South Australian birth registration confirms that he was in fact 17 years old at the time—an inaccuracy that was not uncommon among under-age volunteers eager to serve. He gave his occupation as driver and his religion as Church of England.

Arnold embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Euripides on 1 May 1918. He served as a Private with South Australian reinforcements attached to the 10th Battalion, AIF, during the final year of the war. His service took him through England and France, where his duties primarily involved training, depot postings, and preparation for active service as part of late-war reinforcements.

His military record reflects the frequent movements and administrative changes typical of reinforcements arriving late in the conflict. It also records brief hospitalisation for illness and several minor disciplinary offences, including absences without leave—matters that were common among young soldiers in training and transit and which had no lasting effect on his military standing or post-war entitlements.

Arnold returned to Australia aboard SS Ulysses, disembarking on 30 August 1919, and was honourably discharged on 2 September 1919 following the termination of his period of enlistment. For his wartime service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

In civilian life, Arnold married Daisy Clara Maryanne Ford, and together they raised a family, becoming the parents of Dorothy, Charles, and Norma. He lived for many years in Norwood, South Australia, where he was widely known as "Charlie" by family and friends.

Private Arnold Charles Ford died on 30 September 1977, aged 77 years. His death was reported in The Advertiser on 3 October 1977. He was laid to rest at Enfield Memorial Park, Anglican Section, Row T, Site 58. His wife Daisy passed away on 29 April 1988 and was buried alongside him.

Note: Arnold's age is inconsistently reported in military and death records; his South Australian birth registration confirms his date of birth as 2 February 1900.

Sources & Evidence

Private Arnold Charles "Charlie" Ford (1900–1977)

Birth - South Australian Birth Registration

Ford, Arnold Charles — born 2 February 1900, Kensington
Father: William Ford
Mother: Rosanna (Rosina) Alice Papworth
Registration District: Norwood
Book/Page: 654/75
Parents

William Henry Ford
Born 2 June 1868, Clunes, Victoria
Died 2 June 1951, South Australia
Buried 4 June 1951, West Terrace Cemetery, Plan 3, Row 28, Site 76
Rosina Alice Ford (née Papworth)
Born 18 June 1868, Adelaide, South Australia
Died 22 February 1958, South Australia
Buried with husband at West Terrace Cemetery
Headstone inscription, West Terrace Cemetery, commemorating William Henry Ford and Rosina Alice Ford
Military Service (First World War)

National Archives of Australia (NAA)
Service Record: FORD, Charles Arnold
Regimental Number: 51893
Series: B2455
Service file includes attestation papers, Casualty Forms (Army Form B.103), conduct sheets, medical records, will, embarkation and discharge documents.
Australian War Memorial (AWM)
Embarkation Roll: 23/111/4
Unit: South Australian Reinforcements / 10th Battalion, AIF
Embarked Sydney aboard HMAT Euripides, 1 May 1918
Australian War Memorial Nominal Roll, First World War
Name: Ford, Arnold Charles
Rank: Private
Unit: 10th Battalion
Returned to Australia and discharged 1919
Medal Entitlement Records
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Marriage & Family

Marriage record (South Australia):
Ford, Arnold Charles to Daisy Clara Maryanne (details supported by cemetery and family records)
Headstone inscription, Enfield Memorial Park, confirming spouse Daisy Clara Maryanne Ford and children.
Death

South Australian Death Registration
Ford, Arnold Charles — died 30 September 1977, aged 77
Newspaper Notice
The Advertiser (Adelaide), Death Notice, Arnold Charles (Charlie) Ford
Published 3 October 1977
Burial

Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery Register
Name: Ford, Arnold Charles
Date of Death: 30 September 1977
Interment Date: 4 October 1977
Section: Anglican
Location: Row T, Site 58
Headstone inscription, Enfield Memorial Park
Joint memorial with wife Daisy Clara Maryanne Ford (d. 29 April 1988)
Notes on Conflicting Information

Military and death records inconsistently report Arnold's age. His South Australian birth registration confirms his correct date of birth as 2 February 1900.
Minor disciplinary entries in his military service file are typical of late-war reinforcements and had no impact on his discharge or medal entitlement.

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 30/01/2026