Soldiers of 'A' Company, 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, occupy a captured German trench at Ovillers-la-Boisselle on the Somme. John Warwick Brooke © IWM (Q 3990)
Private Edwin Henry Ford
7th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment
Died of Wounds
Date of Birth: 1880
Place of Birth: Holsworthy, Devon
Date of Death: 21 May 1919
Buried: Teignmouth Cemetery. Remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James' Memorial Window, Teignmouth.
Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Private Edwin (Teddy) Henry Ford age 38.
Born 1880 in Holsworthy, baptised on 27 April 1880, at Holsworthy, denomination Bible Christian, son of Joshua, a basket maker, and Mary Ann.
The 1891 census showed Edwin with his parents and 8 siblings living at Victoria Square, Holsworthy. In 1901 he was living at Cheapside, Langport, East Somerset and working as grocer's assistant. By 1911 he was boarding at 22 Brunswick Street, Teignmouth, still working as a grocers' assistant. In 1911 his marriage to Katie E Dyer was registered at Newton Abbot.
Edwin enlisted with 2/1st Battalion, Royal Devon Yeomanry, service number 3640, on 9 October 1916, and was posted to 2nd Battalion of this regiment, service number 220259, in Étaples on 14 April 1918.
Cheshire Regiment
Cap Badge
On 16 April he was transferred to 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, service number 72216; the regiment had already suffered heavy losses in the previous days. Edwin was fighting with 'H' Company at the Battle of the Lys when he was wounded with gunshot wounds to the head on 26 April resulting in a fractured skull.
His medical records show that he was admitted to 77 Field Ambulance where an operation was performed. He was then transferred and admitted to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital at Étaples on 1 May 1918. Evacuated to England by ship from Antwerp on 23 May he arrived in Stockport the same day.
Edwin was classed as 50% disabled and discharged on 28 November 1918 and awarded a pension of 22s.0d per week from 29 November. He was issued a silver wound badge, number B56941, on 30 December 1918.
Edwin died as a result of his wounds in Teignmouth Hospital on 21 May 1919 and was buried on 24 May 1919 in Teignmouth Cemetery. Remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James' Memorial Window, Teignmouth.
Grave Inscription reads: "Not on the Battlefield did he die. But home with loved ones came to rest".
"Pte E H Teddy Ford. Cheshire Regt wounded in head." Teignmouth Post - 3 May 1918
"Ford E H 'Teddy' Pte.Worked at local grocers.Cheshire Regiment.Wounded in the head." Teignmouth Post - 18 May 1918
"At the funeral, on Saturday afternoon, at Teignmouth Cemetery, of Mr. E. H. (Ted) Ford, who died as a result of injuries received at the Front, about 50 members of the Comrades of the Great War attended, under ex-Sergt. W. J. Bird, Dorest Regiment. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack. Rev. S. J. Thorpe (Baptist) officiated." Western Times - 30 May 1919
