Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Gunner S. C. Ford, Royal Artillery, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941, and was died in captivity on 2 October 1942 after the Japanese cargo liner Lisbon Maru was torpedoed and sunk, along with over 1,800 other Prisoners of War

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue addressed to ‘Mrs. J. Ford, 2, Rosia Ramp, Gibraltar’; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (5488266 Gnr. S. C. Ford. R.A.) extremely fine (5) £300-£400

Sidney Charles Ford was born in Bitterne, Hampshire, on 31 August 1903 and joined the Hampshire Regiment in 1922, before transferring to the Royal Artillery. He moved and settled in Gibraltar and married Jane Lavagna in 1936 whilst still serving with the Royal Artillery. On the outbreak of the Second World War he was serving with 12 Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery, in Hong Kong. This Regiment was formed in December 1940 and was the aftermath of the 12 Heavy Regiment and had three Batteries 20, 24 and 35. These three batteries in the following year were renamed: 24 Battery, Hong Kong Singapore Royal Artillery (H.K.S.); 26 Battery, Hong Kong Singapore Royal Artillery (H.K.S.) and 965 Defence Battery, Hong Kong Singapore Royal Artillery (H.K.S.). He qualified for his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1940.

Ford was captured and taken Prisoner of War at the Fall of Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941. By 26 September 1942 his Regiment was transferred from the Shamshuipo Camp, Hong Kong by the cargo ship the Lisbon Maru. U.S.S. Grouper torpedoed the Lisbon Maru on 1 October 1942 in the South China Sea as it was informed it was an armed Japanese ship. The ship had over 700 Japanese troops and over 1,800 prisoners of war but had no markings as to what it was carrying. The next day on 2 October the ship began sinking and most of the prisoners were trapped inside and some of the Artillery could be heard singing “It’s a long way to Tipperary” during the disaster. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong. At the time of his capture he was living in Ednerville, Victoria, Australia, as Gibraltar had been evacuated.

Sold with a postcard photograph of the recipient; and copied research.