BORN HULL 1894. ONLY SON OF WALTER AND HANNAH FORD OF 54, WEST STREET, HULL (ARMY ADDRESS). HE HAD THREE SISTERS, ANNIE, NELLIE AND LILY. UNMARRIED. HE WORKED AS A PLATER APPRENTICE (1911 CENSUS) AND A FOR TEN MONTHS AS A CHAUFFEUR IN BRIDLINGTON.
DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 8 INCHES TALL, 35 -37 INCH CHEST, 136 LBS WEIGHT, LEFT INDEX FINGER MISSING, WORE GLASSES, INTELLIGENT, ONLY “FAIRLY RELIABLE”.
ENLISTED HULL ON 27 OCTOBER 1915. SERVED AS A MOTOR TRANSPORT DRIVER. DURING TRAINING AT CATTERICK, ENGLAND AND AT THE FRONT, HE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCPILINARY ISSUES, INCLUDING BEING ABSENT, GAMBLING, FALLING ASLEEP IN A CAR, DRIVING A VEHICLE NEGLIGENTLY, CASUING DAMAGE, FAILING TO REPORT DAMAGE, FILE A REPORT AND COMPLY WITH AN ORDER. POSTED TO FRANCE, ON 5 FEB 1916 AND 14 DEC 1916. HE WAS ATTACHED TO 13TH CORPS HEAVY ARTILLERY. DIED IN FRANCE ON 08/10/1918, AGED 24. BETWEEN 1916-1917.
HE IS REMEMBERED ON THE FAMILY GRAVE IN HULL WESTERN CEMETERY – FORD Walter Private 135410 Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), “N” Siege Park Attached To 13th Corps Heavy Artillery Enlisted Hull Died France 8/10/1918, aged 24. Buried Beaurevoir British Cemetery C. 21. Beaurevoir Aisne Cemetery, a commune 25 kilometres south of Cambrai midway between Cambrai and St Quentin Rue de la République, 02110 Beaurevoir, Departement de l’Aisne, Picardie France; Family grave Western Cemetery Chanterlands Avenue Hull Kingston upon Hull Unitary Authority, East Riding of Yorkshire, “In Loving Memory of my dear husband Walter Ford who died May 2nd 1918 aged 42 years”. He was one of the Best that Earth Could Send a loving Father and a friend” also our dear son Walter Killed in Action October 8th 1918 aged 24 years Ever in Thought.
