Fordham, Noel Archibald

Warrant Officer Noel Archibald Fordham MM – 12^th Field Ambulance & W48085 9^th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps

Noel was born in 1894 in Broken Hill NSW to Arthur and Jessie Fordham. The Fordham’s moved to Western Australia shortly after Noel’s birth and they set up residence in Preston Point Road East Fremantle. Noel 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.

Noel Fordham was working as a 21 year old Station Overseer when he enlisted into the AIF on the 3^rd May 1915. He was assigned to the 9^th Reinforcements to the 10^th Light Horse Regiment with the regimental no.1240 and left Fremantle aboard the HMAT Hororata on the 1^st October 1915. It doesn’t appear that he served at Gallipoli and he spent November 1915 through to January 1916 in the 3^rd Light Horse Brigade camp. However during this time Noel was on raids to combat the hostile senussi tribesmen.

 (Article from Sunday Times Below)

Due to his brother being in the 4^th Field Ambulance Noel was able to get transferred to the unit, joining Darrel on the 5^th February 1916. However he would only have a month with the 4^th Field Ambulance as a month later, like Darrell, he was transferred to the 12^th Field Ambulance.

Due to his experience of dealing with horses, Noel was appointed a Driver for the unit and he served through France and Belgium from 1916-18 without being wounded. In April 1918 Noel was decorated for his bravery for transporting casualties under very heavy fire for thirty six hours and was awarded the Military Medal. After the war was over Noel returned to England and took up non military employment in Wool Classing before returning home to WA in August 1919.

He married Doris Foster in Northam in 1925 and was farming out near Toodyay.

With World War Two breaking out Noel offered his services again and was assigned to the local 9^th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps with the regimental number W48085. This unit was based at Northam. He was discharged from service in July 1945.

In 1967 he was living in Safety Bay WA when he wrote to the authorities to claim his Anzac Medallion. Noel died on the 9^th September 1977 at Safety Bay. He is buried at Fremantle Cemetery Plot Anglican Mon AA 0609