Robert Ford MBE

Ancestors

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Biography

Robert was born in Mafeteng, Basutoland, in November 1911. His parents were missionaries, Edward Baunton and Elizabeth Agnes Ford . He was baptised by his father at St Johns Anglican Church Mafeteng on 31st December 1911. ^[1]

Educated St Andrew's college,Grahamstown, South Africa ^[2]

He married Ida Martha Ford on 30th December 1937 at St John the Evangelist, East London. ^[3] Together, they had 4 children.

He was awarded an MBE for his work as an Army chaplain in the Western Desert and in Italy during World War 2.^[4]

He died in North Devon in 1979.^[5] He was buried at St Helen Abbotsham where he had been Vicar.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ "South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-23583-12295-72?cc=1468076&wc=SFVH-92J:44974601,44974602,45169401,45286101 : accessed 19 August 2015), Lesotho > Lesotho > Lesotho, Mafeteng, St John > Baptisms, burials 1891-1915 > image 140 of 243; William Cullen Library, Wits University, Johannesburg
2. ↑ Register of St. Andrew's College Grahamstown Fourth Edition 1855 - 1959 Entry Number 3411

   bro. of No. 3320; Left Aug. 1925; b. 30.11.11; Day. Form III; St. Paul's Coll Gtn.; Priest '35; Asst. Curate. Bloemfontein '34; 84 St. George's St. Bloemfontein '36; C.F. on active service. Mohalieshoek Basutoland '47

3. ↑ South Africa,Parish Registers, 1801-2004 South Africa Cape of Good Hope Grahamstown, East London, St Alban Marriages 1918-1940 Image number 89 Family Search

   Robert Andrew Ford, 26, Basutoland, bachelor, clerk in Holy orders, Koffiefontein, OFS, Banns, with ante nuptial contract

   Ida Martha Ford, 23, South Africa, spinster, 3 York ? Cambridge,C P,

   witnesses, Milton Edkins, E Agnes Ford.

4. ↑ National Archives, Kew, England

   Reference: National Archives, Kew, England WO 373/74/537

   Ford, Robert Andrew

   Rank: Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class

   Service No: 221410

   Regiment: Royal Army Chaplain Department

   Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy

   Award: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

   Date of announcement in London Gazette: 13 December 1945 (image of the original in my possession (H Ford)

   Text from Recommendation:

   'Action for which commended

   This Chaplain has for over three years been responsible for the organisation of the Chaplaincy Services of the African Pioneer Corps (HCT) in the Mediterranean. Regulations forbade that he should be given 3rd Class paid rank as an SCF and he has throughout this period done the work and assumed the responsibility with Local unpaid rank only, In the W desert days first, and subsequently in ITALY, he has shown unremitting devotion of a very high order covering thousands of miles in all weathers by road and air to coordinate the work of his chaplains (European and African) and to attend to the moral and spiritual welfare of African Christians.This small sub-department of the R.A.Ch.D.owes its great efficiency largely to the outstanding and self-sacrificing work of this Chaplain.

   Signed T M LAYNG Deputy Chaplain General

   26.5.45

   Honour or reward M.B.E.

   M.B.E. 13/12/45 '

5. ↑ Name:Robert Ford Birth Date:30 Nov 1911 Date of Registration:Jun 1979 Age at Death:67 Registration district:Barnstaple, Devon Volume:21 Page: 0775 General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. Viewed on Ancestry
6. ↑ personal knowledge