Current Information:

Age-31

13, New North Street, Bloomsbury

The exact circumstances of the death of Albert Ford on 14th November, 1914 are not known but artillery men faced many dangers and during the course of the war nearly 50,000 of them were killed. Their gun batteries were targeted by the enemy’s guns which accounted for many of their casualties. Others were sent forward to act as ‘spotters’ which meant going forward to the front line and signalling back to the guns necessary changes in target and other vital information. Keeping the batteries supplied with ammunition was a dangerous task as the enemy guns would target the known supply routes, especially at night. Brigade Diaries rarely shine any light on casualties sustained, unless of course they were officers and even then information is sparse.

Keeping the batteries supplied with ammunition was a dangerous task for the Divisional Ammunition Columns as the enemy guns would target the known supply routes, especially at night. Once in position, artillery brigades tended not to move much so while the infantry could be relieved at regular intervals and move back to safer positions, the men of the artillery stayed where they were for much longer periods of time.

The records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission show that he was in 30th Division Ammunition Column but as that division did not reach the Western Front until November, 1915, it is much more likely that this was a clerical error and that he was serving in the  3rd Division