FORD, Richard Oscar
| Service Number: | 852 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 November 1914, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Queenscliff, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Catholic School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bushman |
| Died: | Died of Illness - Influenza & Broncho Pneumonia, Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire, England, 4 February 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Highgate Cemetery, London England Row 147, Grave No. 41344 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 852, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 852, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Mar 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 852, 1st Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Shropshire, Sydney | |
| 15 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 852, 1st Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 8 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 852, 1st Light Horse Regiment, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli | |
| 5 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 20 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Gunner, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, France | |
| 9 Oct 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Driver, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, France | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , France | |
| 15 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 852, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, Lagnicourt | |
| 4 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 852, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 852, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , Menin Road | |
| 12 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 852, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , German Spring Offensive 1918, Hazebrouck, Belgium | |
| 23 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 852, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , "The Last Hundred Days" | |
| 28 Aug 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Bombardier, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , France | |
| 23 Dec 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , France | |
| 4 Feb 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 852, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 852 awm_unit: 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1919-02-04 |
Help us honour Richard Oscar Ford's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was born at Gellibrand Fort, Williamstown, Victoria.
He was 27 and the son of Richard Oscar and Mary Jane Ford, of Hobson St., Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia.
He served with the 3rd A.F.A. Brigade of the Australian Field Artillery. He was awarded the MSM [Meritorious Service Medal]
Death incorrectly registered as Richard G. Ford
Deaths Mar 1919 Ford Richard G 27 Wilton 5a 330
Wilton is in the county of Wiltshire.
Headstone Inscription: HAVE MERCY UPON HIM LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON HIM
Biography contributed by Robert Wight
Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (posthumously):
"During the period 25th February 1918 to 16th September 1918. For marked ability and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. has shown exceptional initiative and resource in supplying ammunition to Batteries under difficult and trying conditions. His work during the whole period has been worthy of the highest praise."
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 67
Date: 3 June 1919
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 4th February … Richard Oscar Ford was born at Gellibrand Fort, Williamstown, Victoria in 1891 to parents Anthony Richard Oscar & Mary Jane Ford (nee Neville).
From The Victorian Police Gazette 1908:
Prisoners Reported as Discharged from the Penal Establishments during the Week Ending 12th December, 1908:
MELBOURNE
Ford, Richard Oscar; tried at Melbourne G.S., 1st December, 1908, for wounding; 5 months; suspended, &c., on surety to be of good behaviour for 12 months; native of Victoria, messenger, born 1891, 5ft. 2 ¼ in., fresh complexion, fair hair, blue eyes. Liberated at court, recognisance entered into. No previous conviction.
His mother – Mary Jane Ford died in August 1909 at Queenscliff, Victoria.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 9th November, 1914 (date as per Embarkation/Nominal Roll, however his Attestation Papers have been dated 14th January, 1915 at Liverpool, Sydney, New South Wales) as a 23 year old, single, Bushman from Hobson Street, Queenscliff, Victoria.
Corporal Richard Oscar Ford, Service number 852, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Shropshire (A9) on 17th March, 1915 with the 1st Light Horse Brigade, 1st Light Horse Regiment, 4th Reinforcements.
On 7th June, 1915 Corporal Ford reverted to permanent rank & forfeited 2 days pay on 8th June, 1915. (no other information listed)
He joined 1st Light Horse Regiment at Gallipoli Peninsula on 15th July, 1915.
Trooper Ford was transferred to Mudros on 10th November, 1915. He was admitted to 1st Field Ambulance at Mudros on 9th December, 1915 with Influenza. Trooper Ford disembarked at Alexandria on 26th December, 1915 from H. T. Caledonia.
On 14th January, 1916 Trooper Ford proceeded to join Western F. Force at Egypt.
He was admitted to Hospital at Wardan on 25th January, 1916 & was transferred to Beni Salaama on the same day with Gonorrhoea. Trooper Ford was discharged to duty on 1st February, 1916. (VD Period 8 days). He rejoined his Unit from Hospital on 2nd February, 1916.
Trooper Ford was transferred to Artillery Details at Tukh el Kheil on 5th May, 1916 as Private. He embarked with Artillery Details for Marseilles, France from Alexandria on 29th May, 1916 on H.T. Tunisian. Private Ford disembarked at Marseilles on 5th June, 1916. He joined 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France on 9th June, 1916 & was taken on strength of D.A.C. (Divisional Ammunition Column) in France on 20th August, 1916.
On 9th October, 1916 he was mustered as Driver while posted with 1st D.A.C.
Driver Ford was detached on duty to Signalling School on 17th November, 1916.
He reported sick on 13th January, 1917 & was admitted to New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Amiens, France on 13th January, 1917. Driver Ford was transferred to Ambulance Train on 16th January, 1917 & admitted to No. 1 Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 17th January, 1917 with V.D.G. He was transferred on 19th January, 1917 & admitted to 51st General Hospital at Etaples, France on 20th January, 1917. Driver Ford was discharged to duty on 10th March, 1917* (Total VD period = 57 days). He was posted to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) in France on 10th March, 1917 & was transferred from A.G.B.D. on 14th March, 1917. Driver Ford re-joined 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade in France on 16th March, 1917 from Hospital.
On 24th January, 1917* Driver Ford was transferred to Army Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column from No. 3 Section, 1st D.A.C.& was taken on strength of 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade the same day.
(*Dates as listed on Casualty Form – Active Service).
Driver Ford was on Leave to England from Belgium from 4th October, 1917 & rejoined his Unit from Leave on 20th October, 1917.
He reported sick in France on 2nd February, 1918 & was admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance with Laryngitis. He was discharged to duty on 7th February, 1918 & rejoined his Unit on the same day.
On 20th July, 1918 Driver Ford was detached to 4th Army Corp School & rejoined his Unit from Detachment on 23rd August, 1918.
Driver Ford was promoted to Bombardier while in France on 28th August, 1918 with 3rd Field Artillery Brigade vice Bombardier Taylor promoted.
Bombardier Richard Oscar Ford was promoted to Temporary Sergeant on 23rd September, 1918.
He was on Leave to UK from 8th November, 1918 & rejoined his Unit from Leave on 26th November, 1918.
On 23rd December, 1918 Temporary Sergeant Ford was promoted to Sergeant vice Hunter evacuated from France.
Sergeant Richard Oscar Ford was marched out from A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) in France on 23rd January, 1918 to England for R.T.A. (Return to Australia).
On 16th January, 1919 Bombardier Richard Oscar Ford, 852, 3rd Brigade Ammunition Column, was recommended for a Meritorious Service Medal by Commanding Officer 3rd Army Brigade, Australia Field Artillery: “France – During the period 25-2-1918 to 16-9-1918. For marked ability and devotion to duty. The N.C.O. has shown exceptional initiative and resources in supplying ammunition to Batteries under difficult and trying conditions. His work during the whole period has been worthy of the highest praise.”
Bombardier Richard Oscar Ford, 852, 3rd Brigade Ammunition Column, was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal. (London Gazette – 18 January, 1919 & Commonwealth of Australia Gazette – 3 June, 1919)
He reported sick on 25th January, 1919 – P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin) while posted at No. 4 Command Depot in England. Sergeant Ford was admitted to No. 2 Group Hospital at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 25th January, 1919 & discharged on 26th January, 1919 to Military Hospital at Fovant, Wiltshire on 27th January, 1919 with Influenza. Sergeant Ford was reported to be seriously ill on 29th January, 1919.
Sergeant Richard Oscar Ford died at 12.30 on 4th February, 1919 at Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire, England from Influenza & Broncho Pneumonia.
He was buried in Highgate Cemetery, Greater London, England
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/highgate.html
Click images to start slideshow.