Lot 2084

Description

New Zealand Medal, undated. Lance-Sergt W Ford 2nd Waikato Regt. Engraved. With 'WAF' engraved on reverse in ornate lettering, very fine.

Ex Webbs (Auckland) 1995, McDonald (Auckland) 1996, Oldham (Auckland) 1997, Horne Collection (Christchurch) 1999. With application papers. William Alexander Ford was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1841. His race is unknown although it is probably he was a white 'planter'. He probably came to New Zealand to prospect for gold as his place of enlistment in the 2nd Waikato Militia was at the Otago Goldfields on 18 September 1863. He may well have had previous military service due to the non-commissioned officer rank he was given. Lance Sergeant William Ford was under fire at Orakau on 31 March and 1-2 April 1864. He took his discharge in Auckland on 1 February 1866 (despite medal application papers stating contrary; that he served until September 1865). After his discharge he moved to Oamuru in the South Island and served in the Otago Rifle Volunteers. It was here in 1871 that his New Zealand Medal with undated reverse was delivered (care of Captain Stewart, No 8 Company). Ford's application papers for his New Zealand Medal are verified by Thomas Haultain (formerly Captain of the 2nd Waikato Militia and later the Minister of Defence). Ford later moved to Auckland where he settled. His name appears on Ranfurly's Roll of Defenders of the Empire (1902) and confirms his place of residence as Auckland. He was awarded an undated medal and died at Ranfurly War Veteran's Home, Mount Eden on 11 October 1922 aged 80.