John Henry FORD

Regimental number4398
Place of birthGatten, Queensland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationCarpenter
AddressGunnedah, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 11"
Weight190 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Mary Ford, Gunnedah, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 8 years in the 1st Australian Light Horse; resigned, as Lieutenant, 1905.
Enlistment date29 March 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll17 March 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name29th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/46/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A19 Afric on 3 November 1916
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll29th Battalion
FateDied of accidental injuries 11 December 1916
Place of burialAt sea
Commemoration detailsChatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
115
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in St Joseph's Catholic Church (Stations of the Cross 14: presented by Mrs FORD in memory), Gunnedah, New South Wales.
Other details

War service: embarked Sydney, 3 November 1916.

Died of accidental injury on board ship, 11 December 1916 (caused through overbalancing and slipping head foremost into shipâ??s canvas bath: broken spine). Court of Enquiry, 12 December 1916, concluded that â??no blame is attachable to anyoneâ??. Surgeon Captain J. STEWART, testified: â??On examination I found that he was quite conscious but was unable to use his lower limbs or hands but well able to use his arms. In addition he had lost all his sensations up to the region fourth rib. He complained of slight pain over the region of his sixth thoracic vertebra. On examination over this region no abnormality was detected except slight tenderness. He was carefully handled and nursed and did not show any change till mid-night when he became delirious and passed quickly into unconsciousness.'

Buried at sea.

Medal: British War Medal