Royal Naval Division
Information on James Ford is rather scant. It is known that he was born in Gloucester in the third quarter of 1876. The 1911 census records a ‘James Ford’ as living at Bilstone House, Ashleworth as a Man Servant (and evidently married) but we cannot be sure this is the same man.
It appears that prior to joining the Royal Navy he had served time with the Army, being posted to the Army Reserve on 2 March 1916. Evidence suggests that this was with 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, from whom he was discharged as medically unfit. He later joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and was mobilised into the Royal Naval Division (RND) on 28 June 1917 and posted the next day to 3rd Reserve Battalion. The Royal Naval Division comprised sailors surplus to the requirements of the Fleet and converted into infantrymen, for fighting on land.
His surviving Royal Naval service card shows him to have been discharged from 63 (Royal Naval) Division on 16 November 1917 for re-enlistment into the Army, reporting to the Recruiting Officer at Blandford on 7 December 1917. However, there is also reference to being discharged from 3rd Reserve Battalion RND on that date and being posted to 39th Recruits Battalion, Fort Gomer, Gosport. This was an Army training establishment. There was no service overseas with the RND.
His Royal Navy record card gives his next of kin as a Mrs Gardiner (a friend), 1 West End Cottage, Westgate Bridge, Gloucester .
James died in Gloucester, cause currently unknown, on 28 November 1920; he was 45 years of age and is buried in Gloucester Old Cemetery, where a CWGC headstone marks his grave.
Researched by Graham Adams 24 October 2012