Douglas Ford (GC)
Encyclopedia
Captain Douglas Ford was posthumously awarded the George Cross
for conspicuous gallantry.. His citation was published in the London Gazette
on the 18th of March, 1946.
Ford was born in Galashiels
in September, 1918. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Ford, of 25 Bryce Avenue, Portobello
. He was educated at the Royal High School
, Edinburgh
. A keen sportsman, excelling in rugby
and cricket
, he rose to school captain in 1936. He was 20, and on part-time studies at Edinburgh University for chartered accountancy, when he joined the Royal Scots at the outbreak of war. A member of the university O.T.C., he was commissioned, and posted to Hong Kong
. His brother, James Allan Ford, was also a captain in the Royal Scots. This was the first time that two brothers in the regiment had served together in Hong Kong.
Ford was still serving in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, when he and his brother were taken prisoner by the invading Japanese upon the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941. During his captivity at Sham Shui Po POW camp he made contact with British agents and planned, in conjunction with other officers, a major break out. Before the plans could be put into operation the Japanese grew suspicious and interrogated him and others they suspected of involvement. Despite torture in Stanley Prison
, starvation and a sentence of death he refused to betray his comrades. After being forced to dig his own grave he was executed by Japanese firing squad, at Big Wave Bay on the 18th of December 1943, with two fellow prisoners, Colonel Lanceray Arthur Newnham
, M.C., the Middlesex Regiment, and Captain Mateen Ahmed Ansari
, 7th Rajput Regiment
, Indian Army (who was beheaded). He is buried in Stanley Prison cemetery.
The citation noted:
King George VI
approved the award 'in recognition of the most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner.'
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for conspicuous gallantry.. His citation was published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on the 18th of March, 1946.
Ford was born in Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
in September, 1918. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Ford, of 25 Bryce Avenue, Portobello
Portobello
-Places:England* Portobello, West Midlands* Portobello Road, London* Portobellow, an estate in Wakefield, West YorkshireIreland* Portobello, Dublin, IrelandNew Zealand* Portobello, New ZealandPanama* Portobelo, PanamaScotland* Portobello, Edinburgh...
. He was educated at the Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. A keen sportsman, excelling in rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, he rose to school captain in 1936. He was 20, and on part-time studies at Edinburgh University for chartered accountancy, when he joined the Royal Scots at the outbreak of war. A member of the university O.T.C., he was commissioned, and posted to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. His brother, James Allan Ford, was also a captain in the Royal Scots. This was the first time that two brothers in the regiment had served together in Hong Kong.
Ford was still serving in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, when he and his brother were taken prisoner by the invading Japanese upon the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941. During his captivity at Sham Shui Po POW camp he made contact with British agents and planned, in conjunction with other officers, a major break out. Before the plans could be put into operation the Japanese grew suspicious and interrogated him and others they suspected of involvement. Despite torture in Stanley Prison
Stanley Prison
Stanley Prison is one of the five maximum security prisons in Hong Kong and is currently the oldest institution still in service...
, starvation and a sentence of death he refused to betray his comrades. After being forced to dig his own grave he was executed by Japanese firing squad, at Big Wave Bay on the 18th of December 1943, with two fellow prisoners, Colonel Lanceray Arthur Newnham
Lanceray Arthur Newnham
Temporary Colonel Lanceray Arthur Newnham GC MC , of The Middlesex Regiment and the British Army Aid Group was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the gallantry he showed in resisting Japanese torture during World War II.On 1 January 1917 Captain Newnham was awarded the Military Cross for...
, M.C., the Middlesex Regiment, and Captain Mateen Ahmed Ansari
Mateen Ahmed Ansari
Captain Mateen Ahmed Ansari GC of the 5th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment, in the Indian Army during World War II, and member of the British Army Aid Group was awarded the George Cross posthumously...
, 7th Rajput Regiment
7th Rajput Regiment
The 7th Rajput Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, after the Indian government decided to reform the army moving away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
, Indian Army (who was beheaded). He is buried in Stanley Prison cemetery.
The citation noted:
King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
approved the award 'in recognition of the most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner.'