|
TF/238017 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Roland Ford was born in 1889 in Sudbury, the only son of George and Susannah Ford. His father was employed as a mat maker. Roland, his two sisters and their parents lived at 16 East Street before later moving to 3 Bridge Terrace, East Street.
He was married to Mary and they were living at 64 Military Road, Colchester, Essex when he enlisted and served with the Essex Regiment (formerly 202621) before transferring to the Middlesex Regiment.
The 12th Battalion formed part of 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division and saw action in during the Third Battle of Ypres (31 July – 10 November 1917) at the capture of Westhoek (10 August) and the First Battle of Passchendaele (12 October). They fought in what had become a quagmire due to the unseasonal heavy rain in early October and the heavy British bombardment which had destroyed the area drainage.
Roland was killed in action on 17 October 1917. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, near Ypres, Belgium. A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Tyne Cot Memorial in April 2006 and on April 2009.
Roland was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is also remembered on the Trinity Congregational Church Memorial, which was moved to the United Reformed Church, School Street when Trinity closed. The United Reformed Church closed in 2017 and it is proposed that the memorials from both churches will be relocated to the Sudbury Cemetery Chapel.
Back to Roll of Honour
|
