FREDERICK FORDHAM
Born: 1893, St. Peter’s, Ipswich.
Died: 13th January 1918; age 24; died of wounds at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital – from a gunshot wound to the left lung – received at Neuve Chapelle on the 11th March 1915. Served 8 years & 9 days.
Residence: 14, Woodhouse Street, Ipswich.
Enlistment Details: Date: 13th April 1908; age 15 years; religion: CofE. Residence: St. John’s Children’s Home, Bloomfield Street, Ipswich. Height: 4ft 10 ins, sallow complexion, brown eyes & dark brown hair. Next of Kin: Brother – Thomas Fordham – 2nd Rifle Brigade, Shahjahanpore, India.
Service:
Fort William, Calcutta, India – 16th December 1909.
Attained 18 years of age – 28th March 1911. Darjeeling
22nd November 1911.
Served 6 years – India. 5 months – France – 5th November 1914 – 28th March 1915.
Offence: In arrest on 5th July 1912, convicted by civil power of an offence under section 380 I.P.C. and sentenced to 3 months’ simple imprisonment. Sentence expired on 1st November 1912.
In arrest on 4th March 1913, convicted by civil power of an offence under section 406 I.P.C. and sentenced to 3 months’ rigorous imprisonment, of which 7 weeks shall be in solitary confinement and fined Rs 24/- or, in default, 1 month’s further rigorous imprisonment. Returned to duty from 16th August 1913.
Discharged: 21st April 1916 – aged 23 years – Gun Shot Wound to left lung – Haemoptysis & losing weight – total Disablement – Future is Grave. Character on discharge – Good. Discharged to 14, Woodhouse Street, Ipswich.
Rank: Rifleman; Service Number: 2775
Regiment: The Rifle Brigade, ‘F’ Coy, 5th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: 1914 Star & Silver War Badge.
Funeral service and burial held on the 18th January.
Grave Reference:
BA.IA.13.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Abraham & Charlotte Fordham.
CENSUS
1901 3, Turret Buildings, Turret Lane, Ipswich.
Frederick was 8 years old and living with his widowed father & sisters. They were living with another sister and her husband.
James Rundle, 38, an Iron Founder, born Deptford, London.
Sarah Maud Rundle (nee Fordham), 29, born Ipswich.
Abraham Fordham, 47, a General Carman, born Bradfield, Essex.
Louisa Fordham, 15, a Domestic Servant, born Ipswich.
Rose Fordham, 12, born Ipswich.
Frederick’s mother, Charlotte Fordham (nee Clarke), was born in April 1852, Mistley, Essex – died in August 1898, at 9, Turret Buildings, Ipswich.
His father, Abraham Fordham, died in 1904 at the Union Workhouse, Rushmere St. Andrew, Suffolk.
Soldiers’ Effects to Ernest Fordham & Thomas Fordham – brothers and Mary Ann E. Fordham & Sarah Maud Rundle – sisters.
The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10th – 13th March 1915, was the first planned British offensive of the war. The objective was to take the German line at the Village of Neuve Chapelle and break out and head towards the City of Lille, with the main objective of taking the Aubers Ridge, beyond which was of strategic value. The Battle started well with a heavy bombardment of the German line (more shells fired on this occasion than the entire Boer War), with an advance which successfully took most of the first and second line trenches, but due to poor communications stalled once the village had been taken. The Germans then had time to set up more defensive lines outside of the village and hold the British advance. 40,000 British and Indian troops took part in the battle, with over 10,000+ Casualties.
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