Fordham, Darrell Keith
1352 Sergeant Darryl Fordham MM – 12th Field Ambulance & W73794 9th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps
Darrell Keith Fordham was born on the 29th September 1892 to Arthur and Jessie Fordham.
The Fordham’s moved to Western Australia shortly after Darrell’s birth and they set up residence in Preston Point Road East Fremantle. Darrell was educated at Fremantle Boys School and after finishing his study there was sent for further schooling to Perth Technical College.
Unfortunately in 1907 Arthur died and in 1910 his wife Jessie remarried to an ex Scottish soldier by name of Laughton.
Darrell worked as a clerk and had spent four years in the 86th Militia Regiment.
Darrel Fordham was the first of the brothers to enlist in the war on the 19th September 1914. The medical examiner recorded his details as, height of 5 feet 6 inches, weight of 142lbs, chest measurement of 34-36 inches, fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He had been a clerk working in Fremantle but after enlistment joined C Section of the 4th Field Ambulance and was given the regimental no.1352. He left Fremantle with this group in December 1914 aboard the HMAT Ajana and after spending a few months in Egypt he served with the 4th Field Ambulance from April 25th 1915 at Gallipoli until their evacuation in December 1915. In March 1916 he was transferred to the 12th Field Ambulance and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. Darrel was decorated for his bravery in July/August 1916 at Pozieres for his bravery and coolness under heavy fire and was awarded the Military Medal.
He was slightly gassed in Belgium in August 1917, but otherwise got through the war unscathed. As an original Anzac in 1918 Darrel qualified for Anzac Leave and he departed from England in September 1918, his war was now over.
He married Catherine Munro in Perth in 1929 and was by now farming in the Wyening district near Calingiri.
In World War Two Darrell again offered his services and was serving with the Volunteer Defence Corps since 1940. (W73794) He was assigned to the 9th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps which was based at Northam and held the rank of Lieutenant. He served to October 1945.
Darrell Keith Fordham died in Safety Bay in 1960 aged 68 and is buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican Mon AA 0609.
Photo below of Darrell (pictured centre) at Gallipoli with the 4th Field Ambulance)