Chailey Parish
Magazine notes in March 1915 that Frank Ford is serving his King and Country. In
October 1915 it reports, Ford, Private F, 5th Royal Sussex, England following this up in November with the information that he is now
in France. In November 1916 his
rank is noted as lance-corporal and In July 1918, corporal.
Frank Ford appears
to have served continuously from March 1915 until the final published roll call in Chailey’s parish magazine in July
1919. The National Archives lists two numbers for Frank Ford: 5/3110 and 240819
(the new number he was assigned when the territorials were re-numbered in 1917). He almost certainly enlisted with Erle Bristow of Chailey as the two men’s numbers are virtually identical. Erle’s
numbers with the 5th Royal Sussex were 5/3109 and later, 240818.
The 1901 census
of England and Wales notes a 13 year old Frank Ford living in Chailey village with his widowed mother Elizabeth Ford (aged
55 and earning a living through cleaning – or “charing”) and
two brothers: John Ford (aged 15) and George C Ford (aged 26). All three sons
are noted as agricultural labourers and all three are noted as having been born in Chailey.
Frank and John Ford were cousins of Archie, Ashley, Aubrey and Harry Tapp (Elizabeth Ford’s maiden name was Tapp and she was the sister of the Tapp Brothers’ father, Joseph). F Ford also appears in Chailey’s parish magazine and this man may be related to Frank and John Ford and the Tapp brothers.
Sources and Acknowledgements
- 1901 Census of England and Wales
- Chailey Parish Magazine
- The National Archives’ on-line medal information card index
