Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 5314478

Reference: WO372/24

Title: Medal Index Card

Description: Medal index cards were created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.

UPP: GBM/MCI/5320319

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 8516822

Reference: bmd_births

Title: England & Wales births 1837-2006 Transcription

Connected by: Steve30921

UPP: BMD/B/1876/3/AZ/000190/312

Additional: Contains his full name as per military records and school record book.

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 8516879

Title: Richard Jellard Ford

Description: Picture of him in uniform, reproduced from the book, 'Wycliffe and the War'.

Connected by: Steve30921

Source information

ID: 8516881

Name: Short memoriam to R J Ford produced by his ex HeadMaster

Reference: Wycliffe College Archives

Title: Wycliffe and the War

Description: Part 1 “Dick" Ford was at Haywardsfield as a small boy somewhere in the latter part of the eighties. When the South African War broke out he was ranching in Texas, but returned to England and went out in Kitchener's Horse. He received a commission during the war, and eventually was promoted to a Captaincy in the Worcester Regiment. His regiment was one of the first at the front on the outbreak at the present war. For six months he was almost ceaselessly in action, taking part in the retreat from Mons and all the chief engagements which followed. In his despatch of Nov. 20th, 1914, Sir John French greatly praised the Worcester’s for their part in the recapture of Gheluvelt. Captain Ford was mentioned in despatches and received the Military Cross for gallantry in leading his company during this action, and by a happy coincidence his decoration was gazetted while he was in England on six days' leave in the following December.

Connected by: Steve30921

Source information

ID: 8516882

Reference: 1881gbc

Title: 1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription

Connected by: Steve30921

UPP: GBC/1881/0025103252

Additional: Grew up in Swansea

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 8516883

Reference: gbm_cwgc_casualties_iwm_ww1

Title: Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Casualty Records Transcription

Connected by: Steve30921

UPP: GBM/CWGCCASUALIWM/219651

Credit: © Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Source information

ID: 8516885

Reference: wwisd

Title: Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 Transcription

Connected by: Steve30921

UPP: GBM/WWISD/1016686

Credit: © Naval and Military Press Ltd

Source information

ID: 8516886

Reference: gbm_mci

Title: Medal Index Cards Transcription

Connected by: Steve30921

UPP: GBM/MCI/2509129

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 8516887

Reference: bmd_marriages

Title: England & Wales marriages 1837-2008 Transcription

Connected by: Steve30921

UPP: BMD/M/1912/4/AZ/000348/117

Credit: © General Register Office

Source information

ID: 8794851

Title: Strete, St Michael & All Angels: baptisms 1836 - 1914

Description: Entry of all children born to Thomas Ford & Matilda Jellard

Connected by: Fife3190

URL: http://www.our4bears.net/parishes/Strete/Strete_bap.htm
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Source information

ID: 8794855

Title: Regimental records

Description: showing award of MC and date of death as 9 May 1915 at Ypres

Connected by: Fife3190

URL: http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/roll_honour_ww1_f.php
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: regimental entry for Capt Richard Jellard Ford

Source information

ID: 8794857

Title: Gheluvelt 31/10/1914

Description: Report of battle and citations awarded Regimental war diary

Connected by: Fife3190

URL: http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/h_gheluvelt.php
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: citation of MC awarded after Battle of Ghelvelt 1914,

Source information

ID: 8794858

Title: Regimental Record

Description: Battle of Aubers Ridge, Ypres, 9 May 1915 Description of action and report of Capt R J Ford killed in action

Connected by: Fife3190

URL: http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/bat_1_1915.php
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: The cause of the failure had been underestimation of the strength of the German defensive line (profiting by the lesson of Neuve Chapelle, the Germans had greatly strengthened their parapets, and their defensive wire. Throughout the day their rifle and machine-gun fire was never quenched) and of the weight of artillery fire necessary to breach it. The result was an appalling casualty roll. The four battalions of the 24th Brigade lost more than 1,600 officers and men : the losses of the 1st Worcestershire were over 200 -- One officer (Captain R. J. Ford) and 31 other ranks killed. Four officers (Lieut. R. C. Wynter, 2/Lieuts. L. Garratt, C. B. Phillips and A. F. Birch-Jones) and 185 other ranks wounded, 8 reported missing. During the ensuing twenty-four hours the 1st Worcestershire remained in the front line under, continuous shell-fire, labouring to repair the defences.

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