Ford, Thomas Arthur
Regiment: Lancers (5th Royal Irish)
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 4101 (previously 104)
Boer War service: Not known
Date of enlistment: Not known
Date of discharge: Not known
Reason for discharge: Not known
Other information: Thomas went on to serve in WW1, losing his life in a tragic maritime accident in the English Channel. More information can be found on our Great War site.
Born: In 1879 in Fauls, Prees, Shropshire.
Family: He was one of five children born to John and Mary Ford. He married twice in South Africa; he had three children from his first marriage and one child, born posthumously from his second marriage
Residence: He lived in Fauls, Prees until at least 1891. It is possible that he emigrated to South Africa before serving in the Boer War.
Employment: He was a blacksmith before he enlisted.
Died: 21 February 1917. Thomas was on the SS Mendi with the last contingent of the South African Native Labour Corp soldiers to sail to the United Kingdom to join the Great War. The SS Mendi was struck in thick fog off the Isle of Wight by the SS Darro resulting in a loss of 646 lives, including Thomas.
Other information: