No.203483, Private, Harry FORD
Aged 32
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Harry FORD was born in Haverhill (Risbridge Q1-1886 4A:648), son of Frederick and Elizabeth FORD (née CHALLIS or BROWN).
1891 census...Aged 5, he was at 11 Peas Hill, Haverhill with his father Frederick FORD [28] domestic gardener; his mother Elizabeth [28] tailor's machinist; sister Emily C [8], Beatrice Ann [6] and Bertha May [3] and Frederick [1]. All were born in Haverhill. 1901 census... Aged 15, a baker's assistant, he was at 28 Burton End, Haverhill with his parents; sister Emily (trousers machinist), Beatrice and Bertha (domestic nurse); brothers Frederick and Thomas [8] born in Haverhill. 1911 census...Aged 25, foreman for baker/confectioner,Aged 21, under gardener domestic, he was at 28 Vine Cottages, Haverhill with his parents (father now head gardener, mother an overlooker in clothing factory); sister Emily (sewing machinist), Annie (Beatrice) and Bertha (sewing machinist); brothers Frederick (under gardener domestic and Thomas (shorthand clerk). His mother had lost 3 of her 9 children (she died on 24th August 1917). In 1911 (Risbridge Q3-1911) he married Martha Agnes CLAYDON (b. 4-9-1897). They lived at 39 Withersfield Road, Haverhill. The pension card records Martha at 39 Withersfield Road, with their daughter Catherine Dora (b.16-10-1913) His brother Frederick died at home in 1919 while serving in the Royal Army Service Corps see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds. He was killed early in the German Spring Offensive (The Kaiserschlacht) when the Germans began to over run
the Allies along the Somme, breaking through just about everywhere. The Regimental history says:- "The early morning was again misty and advantage was taken of this by the enemy to place machine gun fire and trench mortars a short distance from the wire. Their movements were observed and from 7.30 am. until 11 am. a number were shot down. No communication had been established with the artillery, so that its fire could not be directed, but apart from this disadvantage the situation remained much the same until 4.30 pm when report came that the enemy had broken through the corps line to the north of Morchies and was moving south-west, rendering the position of the 18th Brigade most critical. By 6.30 pm. it had become untenable, as the enemy penetrated the right flank and the Brigade was isolated, though for a time the stout resistance of two platoons of the Royal Scots afforded material aid. At midnight Brigade headquarters ordered withdrawal without waiting for relief. Buses were promised at the Monument, Favreuil-Sapignies road. but shells were falling around this point and no buses were available, so that the exhausted units of the Brigade staggered along the road to Buchanan Camp. All ranks fell asleep at each ten minutes halt, but there was no straggling, and at 6.30. am on March 23rd, seven officers and 77 other ranks marched steadily into camp." The final figure for those killed of the 11th Essex that day from CWGC is 52, and of these, 40 have no known grave. The inscription for the two brothers on the family headston in Haverhill read:- "Pte Frederick Ford…who died Feb 2nd 1919 whilst on leave from France. Aged 29 years… Pte. Harry Ford…brother of the above who was killed while on active service in France…March 22nd 1918 Aged 32 years". |
photo: Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details