Lieutenant William Ford, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - killed at the Fall of Singapore
22/05/2025
CWGC thanks Noonans Mayfair Ltd for this story.
William Ford attested for the Army Ordnance Corps and served with them during the Great War as an Armourer Staff Sergeant on the Western Front from 31 December 1914.
He suffered a shrapnel wound to the head in February 1916, and was admitted to 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, on 10 February 1916; discharged from hospital on 4 March 1916, he was subsequently admitted to the same hospital suffering from a double hernia on 5 September 1918.
Remaining in the Army Ordnance Corps, Ford was advanced Armourer Quartermaster Sergeant and was commissioned Lieutenant on 25 September 1941.
He served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps during the Second World War and was presumed killed in action at the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942.
A letter written to the recipient’s brother from the War Office, dated 29 January 1946, states:
‘Information regarding your brother Lieutenant W. Ford, R.A.O.C., has been received from your brother’s Commanding Officer that your brother embarked with him at Singapore on a Motor Launch on the night of 13-14 February 1942. On 15 February a Japanese Destroyer was encountered and the launch was sunk.
The informant states that he believes he was the last to leave the vessel and after the commencement of the action he never saw your brother either on deck on in the water. In view of this information, and in the absence of any news of your brother since the cessation of hostilities and the consequent release of prisoners of war in the Far East ... it is officially recorded that Lieutenant W. Ford, R.A.O.C. is presumed to have been killed in action on or shortly after 15 February 1942.’
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.
1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, Regular Army.
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