Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte

The Great War and Second World War campaign service group of eight awarded to Commander W. A. Ford, Royal Navy, whose career also encompassed a “mention” for service in monitors in North Russia in 1919 and command of a gunboat on the Yangtse, in which latter period he incurred the displeasure of Their Lordships for the ‘accidental shooting of a Chinese soldier’ - but made up for this indiscretion by rescuing some ‘captured Catholic priests’

1914-15 Star (J. 4197 W. A. Ford, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Mte. W. A. Ford, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, the earlier awards mounted as worn and the 1939-45 awards in their original card box of issue, good very fine and better (8) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte.

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Walter Ambrose Ford, who was born in Marylebone, London, in March 1893, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1909.

Advanced to Able Seaman in January 1912, he was serving in the cruiser H.M.S. Iphigenia on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, and he remained similarly employed until coming ashore to Pembroke I as a recently promoted Leading Seaman in March 1915. Having then served in the cruiser Antrim from August 1915 to March 1917, and been advanced to Petty Officer, he was commissioned as a Gunner (T.) in the latter month and served in the cruisers Southampton (May 1917-March 1918), and the Blonde (March 1918-March 1919).

He had meanwhile been appointed an Acting Mate, and next removed to the monitor M. 27, in which ship he witnessed further active service in North Russia in June-September 1919 - with her shallow draught M. 27 was ideal for carrying out bombardments in support of the Anglo-Russian Expeditionary Force on the River Dvina, where she formed part of Altham’s Flotilla.

First going into action with her consorts on 19 June, she bombarded Bolshevik troops and shipping during an offensive to capture the high ground between Topsa and Troitsa. A passage having then been cleared through an enemy minefield, the M. 27 made her way to Troitsa, where, on 7-8 July, the Bolsheviks launched a fierce attack and M. 27 ‘did useful service with her triple 4-inch mounting’. And she was back in action on 9-10 August, when, with her consorts, she bombarded Borok and Seltso. Bolos & Barishynas by Singleton-Gates takes up the story:

‘When trouble was announced at Borok, the Navy soon set to work and banged shell after shell into the village. The result of that shoot was exceedingly beneficial to the infantry, who were not having too pleasant a time in front of Borok. All through the afternoon the guns of the Navy dropped shells on to points selected for special treatment. They enjoyed the hurricane bombardment of Seltso amazingly ... as one Naval officer described it, ‘A pleasing sight was to see Seltso on fire, the whole sky glowing a beautiful red. I suppose this was an everyday sight for the Army, but I must confess it impressed us vastly, as it seemed such a fitting climax.’ ’

The offensive was a complete success, the enemy suffering some 3,700 casualties in addition to the loss of considerable quantities of military supplies. But in the subsequent evacuation of the Naval flotilla in September, the river level became so low that M. 27 - and her consort M. 25 - ran aground, could not be refloated, and had to be scuttled.

Ford was mentioned in despatches having, according to his service record, ‘always shown courage and coolness under fire’ (London Gazette 17 October 1919).

Advanced to Lieutenant-Commander in September 1927, he served as C.O. of the river gunboat Tern on the Yangtse from September 1929 to November 1930, a period that incurred both the pleasure and displeasure of Their Lordships - the former for the ‘release of captured Catholic priests’ and the latter for the ‘accidental shooting of a Chinese soldier’ (his service record refers).

Having then been placed on the Retired List in the rank of Commander, Ford was recalled on the renewal of hostilities and, among other appointments, commanded the armed yacht St. Modwen from February 1940 to July 1941, operating in the Western Approaches; sold with copied service record.