Lot 5126

Description

New Zealand Medal 1869, (1861-1866 reverse), (Second War). No 91 Pte. Arthur S. Ford. 1st Regt. Waikato Militia. Engraved. With gold initials brooch bar, ribbon dirty, a few minor nicks in medal, good very fine.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 75 (lot 2606).

Arthur Steele Ford, engineer, born 1843 at Southwalk, Middlesex, England; Enl.28Aug1863 at Melbourne in 1st Waikato Regt; served at Opotiki, Orakau 31Mar to 02Apr1864 and Waimana 10Feb1868; also served in Auckland Artillery Volunteers and Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry.

After service in the Waikato Regt, Ford settled in Coromandel, New Zealand where it is reported he applied for several patents and listed his occupation as mechanical engineer. The patents were as follows,
March 1884 'A Crystal Engine'; May 1884 'The Eureka Beer-Receiver'; 1889 'Ford's patent Tailing Crusher & Cylindrical Friction Amalgamator'. In January 1890 he applied for bankruptcy stating that he was a river-boat engineer but had also engaged in mining at Waihi and got into debt. His sole assets were patents and a gold-saving device which he valued at £25 and debts of £91.

In February 1903 it was reported that Arthur Steele Ford, now the battery manager of the Kapowai mine suggested to the Hon Jas. McGowan that a long active service medal should be struck by the Government for those veterans who had actually been under fire and pointed out that their number was rapidly decreasing. The report also stated that Mr Ford had seen active service in two cavalry regiments, one artillery, three infantry corps and one water transport between the years 1863 and 1882.