Private James Ford

Private James Ford ,1st Battalion ,Seaforth Highlanders He had been a regular soldier having enlisted in 1906 and was killed at the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9th May 1915, aged 25. He had been born in Coldstream and was the son of Thomas and Marion Ford who had a Plumbing business in Duns Road, Coldstream. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France. He had been in the United States working as a steel hardener in New York on the outbreak of War but as a Reservist he  had returned to re-join his old Regiment which was part of the Dehra Dun Brigade in the Indian Division. The artillery bombardment was sporadic due to a shortage of shells and generally ineffective leaving the German defences intact. The Battalion attacked beside the 2/2 Gurkhas but suffered dreadful casualties after only a few yards. Some of the Gurkhas with great bravery and armed only with their kukris got into the German trenches but were killed to a man. No objectives were gained, the line had not advanced and little damage had been inflicted on the enemy. The Brigade had 37 Officers and 856 Other Ranks killed or wounded of which 21 Officers and 488 Other Ranks were Seaforths. Total British casualties for the day were 12,000 and Aubers Ridge remained in German hands until captured by the 47th ( London ) Division in October 1918. His brother John was killed in Gallipoli in June 1915 whilst serving with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. The photos show troops before and after the Battle.