No.33186, Private, Herbert Garwood FORD
Aged 21
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Born in Bury St.Edmunds in 1895 (2nd qtr 4a:801) son of George and Frances Mary FORD (née GARWOOD)
1901 census...Aged 5, he was at 36 Church Walk, Bury St.Edmunds wth his father George FORD [60]Army pensioner, born Ripe, Sussex; his mother Frances [44] born little Saxham; brothers Percy [18](labourer)born in Bury St.Edmunds, Arthur [13] and Charles [11] born in Little Saxham and Sidney [9] born Bury St.Edmunds. 1911 census...Aged 15, he was at Lambert Place, Bury St.edmunds with his parents; brothers Charles and Sidney (labourers) and Arthur (all labourers) his mother had lost one of her 7 children (Percy had died in 1909). Five sons were to die in the war, Arthur, Sidney, Herbert, George and William. 4 of his brothers also died in the war Sidney see here George see here Arthur see here William see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. War Diary 4th Oct 1:30 am.."A" and "C" Coys and HQ left CLAPHAM JUNCTION behind the 12th/13th N.F and also came under the heavy hostile barrage at GLENCORSE WOOD, but in spite of this, touch was maintained forward and BLACK WATCH CORNER (28.J.15.a.60.80) was reached at 2:30 am but here again a heavy barrage was encountered and an order was given to take cover in shell holes. Meanwhile touch was lost with the 12/13 NF and the whole Bn was at this juncture in the vicinity of BLACK WATCH CORNER under heavy shell fire without guides and the task of regaining touch proved a very formidable one. Eventually the Bn reached the jumping off point at 5:15 am to find the 1st Bn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT occupying the position the Bn was to have been in. The CO of the 1st Linc appreciating the situation and realizing the dangerous position of the Bn at BLACK WATCH CORNER in the barrage, which he surmised would prevent it from getting into position in time(zero 6am) moved his Bn up into position on the left of the 12/13 NF and so the Bn (10th YORK R) became reserve Bn.on a line just in front of POLYGON WOOD (28.J.10.c.) . 6 am At zero, an intensive barrage was put down by the enemy in the area in front of POLYGON WOOD. During the period 9 pm on 3rd to 6 am on 4th the Bn had suffered heavy losses from shell fire, but in spite of this the morale of all ranks remained high. During the day the hostile artillery fire continued increasingly. 3pm An SOS was put up by the troops on the right and the Bn was ready to counter-attack if necessary,but no hostile counter-attack matured. Under cover of darkness the Bn moved forward to a new position near the old front line in JUNIPER TR (28.J.10.b) and consolidated here. Herbet was found at 28.J.10.c.90.30 , identified by his disc and re-buried in Butts Cemetery in March 1920.
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