Kenneth enlisted in January of 1943 and went overseas 20 June of that year .

It was reported in the BNT 29/03/45 that Pte. Ford was wounded for the second time, he was first wounded in the summer of 1944 in the campaign to capture Caen after the D-Day landings. The date and place of his second wounding was not indicated in the Blenheim News Tribune article.

An article appeared in the Blenheim News Tribune under the by-line “This ‘n That” by Wynne Bunning printed sometime after Pte. Ford’s death but which is most fitting for him as follows (JRH):

“A few weeks ago, a chaplin wrote a most beautiful letter to the grandparents of one of Blenheim’s heroes – Kennie Ford. The letter which appeared in the News-Tribune, touched the hearts of all who read it, and the chaplin described himself as Padre Joe. These verses are dedicated to him wherever he is, as well as to Ken Ford.

PARDE JOE.

He was dying – had only a few minutes left –

When they carried him gently in,

Out of the roaring furry of guns,

And bombs, and wars murders din!

 

He looked so young, so pititfully

like a child,

As if he were lost, out there,

And the padre took him in his arms,

As he softly breathed a prayer.

 

There was no sign of recognition

On the face of the little lad,

Til the padre stroked the curly head,

As tho’ he were his dad.

 

He held the suffering body close,

And the boy seemed then to know,

For he smiled when he heard a

beloved voice

Say, “Son this is Padre Joe!”.

 

And a soldier lad went home to God

Without a bit of fear,

Because a guy named Padre Joe

Cared for, and loved hi here.

Thanks to the Editor of the Blenheim New-Tribune for his permission to include this poem on Gathering our Heroes. JRH 23/01/2015. JRH.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

The First 200 Years” by Alvin Armstrong, Index of Overseas Deaths, Blenheim IODE Tablet of Remembrance.

Supplemental Information

Born in Blenheim, ON. the son of John and Florence Ford, of Windsor, Ontario and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Butler of Blenheim, ON.; brother of Lucille ,Jean and William. Kenneth received his education at the Harry E. Guppy Public School in Windsor, ON. After school and before enlisting he was employed by the Windsor Ice & Coal Co. Age: 20, DOW - Date of Death: 08/03/1945, in Germany. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: III. G. 3. Cemetery: GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY - Netherlands. Afa: “The First 200 Years” by Alvin Armstrong. Index of Overseas Deaths. Blenheim IODE Tablet of Remembrance, CVWM., Windsor Star (date unknown), CVWM(P), BNT, BFL-B.

Age

20

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