Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Ford, a farm labourer, born on the 10th April 1852 in Dunton Bassett, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Ford (nee Morris, married on the 3rd June 1873 in the Leicester district), born on the 5th August 1854 in Ashby Magna, Leicestershire. Arthur, a schoolboy was born on the 14th September 1882 in Glenfield, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Andrew, a farm labourer, born on the 21st March 1873, William Richard, a shoe trade worker, born in the 3rd quarter of 1875, Sarah Ann, a schoolgirl, born on the 26th April 1878 and Albert Edward, a schoolboy born on the 25th April 1880, the latter four siblings were all born in Dunton Bassett, Margaret, a schoolgirl, born in the 4th quarter of 1884, Alfred, a schoolboy, born on the 27th December 1886 and George, born on the 16th March 1889, the latter three siblings were all born in Glenfield, also residing with the family was Arthur’s cousin, Elizabeth Morris, a schoolgirl, born 1883 in Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Chestnut Street, Glenfield. Arthur’s sister Margaret died on the 15th April 1897 in Glenfield. In March 1901 Arthur was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at Station Road, Glenfield, together with his father, a farm shepherd, his mother and siblings, Andrew, a stone quarryman, Sarah Ann, a boot trade machinist, Albert, a shoe trade clicker, Alfred, George, Ada, born on the 28th April 1891, Herbert, born on the 21st November 1894 and Maud born on the 2nd September 1897, the latter three siblings were all born in Glenfield. In April 1911, Arthur was absent from the family home at Station Road, Glenfield, residing there was his father, a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, George, a clerk, Ada, a hosiery trade machinist, Herbert, a brickyard labourer and Maud, a boot trade machinist. It is unknown when Arthur emigrated to Canada, but given that he was not recorded on the census return for the family in April 1911, the assumption is that he had already travelled to, and settled in Canada.
Arthur enlisted into the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on the 19th July 1915 in Toronto, Ontario and was allotted the service number 135703. He gave his date of birth as 14th September 1882, place of birth as Glenfield, Leicestershire, his next of kin as his father, Mr. William Ford, Station Road, Glenfield, Leicester, marital status as single and his trade or calling as labourer.
He confirmed that he had previously served in the British Army for 3 years.
His descriptive examination recorded that his apparent age was 32 years 10 months, he was 5 feet 10½ inches in height, weighed 170 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 39 and 41½ inches, his complexion was described as fair, he had blue eyes and his hair colour was fair. His physical development was described as good. The following distinctive marks were noted, tattoo on both forearms, he gave his religion as Church of England.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. On enlistment 74th Bn. Canadian Infantry. 24/7/15.
Transferred. 95th Bn. Canadian Infantry. Toronto, Canada. 1/4/16,
Awarded. 10 Days C.B. and Reverts to Permanent Grade from Lance Corporal. For Late on Parade, Lower Ditchgate. 25/7/16.
Embarked. Halifax, Canada. S.S. Olympic. 31/5/16.
Disembarked. England. 8/6/16.
Drafted to. 4th Bn. Canadian Infantry. 15/9/16.
Canadian Base Depot. Reinforcements. Taken on Strength. 16/9/16.
Canadian Base Depot. Left for 1st Entrenching Battalion Canadian Infantry. In the Field. 29/9/16.
Arrived. 1st Entrenching Battalion Canadian Infantry. In the Field. In the Field. 2/10/16.
1st Entrenching Battalion Canadian Infantry. Left for 4th Bn. Canadian Infantry. In the Field. 3/10/16.
Joined. 4th Bn. Canadian Infantry. In the Field. 3/10/16.
Temporarily Attached. 182nd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers. In the Field. 25/10/16.
Ceases. To be attached to the 182nd Tunnelling Company. In the Field. 22/12/16.
Transferred. To 1st Infantry Brigade School for instruction. 31/7/17.
Killed in action. Pte. In the Field. 16/9/17.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. These were sent to his sister, Sarah Elizabeth Ford, Inglenook, 52, Knighton Church Road, Leicester.
Arthur’s service record amounts to a total of thirty pages and these are in good condition and offer an accurate overall description of events that took place during his period of his military service.
The War Diary records: 16 Sep-17 – Trenches ST. LAURENT. Enemy artillery active during the night. Weather, fine and warm. Trenches improved and more wire put out.
30 Sep-17. Summary.
Total strength of Battalion September 1st – 1082.
Killed during September – 6.
Died of Wounds – 8
Wounded – 36.
Wounded (Gassed) – 47.
Wounded (Shell Shock) – 4
Self Inflicted Wounding – 1.
Transferred – 61.
Sick – 40.
Total 203.
Reinforcements – 50.
From Hospital – 66.
Strength of Battalion, September 30th 1917 – 995.