General Discussion

News about the next opportunity to join in remembrance of a Dawlish serviceman who lost his life during World War One.

Private Fred Ford will be remembered on Saturday 9th May 2015

at St Gregory’s, commencing at 12 noon

Private Ford died at Gallipoli aged just 18 years old

He grew up in Dawlish, and is known to have lived at 3 Park Street and then later at Strand Hill.

Regimental records show that he enlisted with the Royal Marines in Exeter on 21 July 1913 aged 17.  He saw service at Antwerp and then later departed with his company for the ill fated Dardanelles campaign.

The Dawlish Gazette reported

“Mr and Mrs Ford, of Strand Hill, Dawlish, had sad news conveyed to them officially on Saturday last of the death of their son, Pte Fred Ford, of the Royal Marines, killed in action in the Dardanelles. Deceased previously saw service in the war with the Naval Brigade in Antwerp. Subsequently, he came home for a few days leave. He was a nice-dispositioned, unassuming young fellow, who was a boy chorister in St Mark's Church. The sympathies of the community go out to the bereaved.”

Please join us on Saturday as we pay tribute to this “unassuming young fellow” who would perhaps have been amazed to know that a hundred years later people in his home town gathered to give honour to his memory

Thanks for posting Michael.

RIP Royal.

I believe Fred Ford is commemorated on the Helles Memorial on one of the panels.

This indicates he may well have 'died at sea' possibly on one of the many capital ship losses of the Royal Navy in the Dardanelles.

He is in good company - each side of him are remembered, among many, 5 VC winners and 4 English and Scottish Rugby Internationals.

RIP Fred.

We Will Remember Them.