No. 20471, Private, Bert FORDHAM
Aged 26
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Bert Fordham was born in Bedminster (Bedminster Q2-1890 5C:630), son of Nathan Ephraim and Eliza Ann FORDHAM (née BRADFORD).
1891 census...Aged 1, he was at 11 Clifton View, Bedminster, Somerset with his father Nathan FORDHAM [39] engineer's labourer, born Swaffham, Kent; his mother Eliza [34] born Swaffham, Kent, sister Lillie [11] and brothers Harry [7]and Charles [6] also recorded as born in Swaffham, Kent; sister Rebecca [5] born in Rochford, Essex. The recording of Swaffham as being in Kent is strange, no trace found of such a place. It is however corrected in the following census to Cambridgeshire. 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at 40 Summers Hill, Bristol with his parents (father now a sanitary authority labourer, sisters Lily, Rebecca and new Bristol born siblings, Mabel [8],Rose [7] and Percy [2]. 1911 census...Aged 21, a farm labourer, he was at Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck with his widower father (farm labourer), sisters Rebecca and Mabel and brother Percy. His mother had died in 1906 (registered Newmarket) |
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He enlisted in Cambridge.
The 7th Battalion were not involved in the bloodbath that was the 1st day of the Somme, 1st July 1916, that was the 11th Suffolks and a minor part for the 8th battalion. On the 3rd however the 7th were called into action with the 35th Brigade, 12th (eastern) Division. From support trenches in Henencourt Wood, with the 5th Royal Berkshires, they attacked Ovillers. The first four waves, under intense fire, cleared the enemies positions as far as their third line,some actually entering the village. In the severe fighting all the company commanders were killed and the attack ground to a standstill. The survivors were forced to withdraw, having suffered over 450 casualties. Even then, they remained in the trenches until the 8th. Of the 144 men of the battalion killed on this day, 110 have no known grave. Like so many Bert's death is recorded as "on or since..."
and on the memorial tablet of the Zion Church in Swaffham Prior. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
