World War II
Ford was still serving in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, when he and his brother were taken prisoner by the invading Japanese upon the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941. During his captivity at Sham Shui Po POW camp he made contact with British agents and planned, in conjunction with other officers, a major break out. Before the plans could be put into operation the Japanese grew suspicious and interrogated him and others they suspected of involvement. Despite torture in Stanley Prison, starvation and a sentence of death he refused to betray his comrades. After being forced to dig his own grave he was executed by Japanese firing squad, at Big Wave Bay on the 18th of December 1943, with two fellow prisoners, Colonel Lanceray Arthur Newnham, M.C., the Middlesex Regiment, and Captain Mateen Ahmed Ansari, 7th Rajput Regiment, Indian Army (who was beheaded). He is buried in Stanley Prison cemetery.
The citation noted:
| “ | Captain Ford was interrogated, tortured, starved, and finally met his death with Colonel Newnham. Throughout his terrible ordeal, the behaviour of Captain Ford was superb. He refused to implicate any others. He maintained his spirits and those of his fellow prisoners until the end. His self-control, superb heroism, and self-sacrifice in face of the most brutal torture cannot have been surpassed. | ” |
King George VI approved the award 'in recognition of the most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner.'
Captain Ford is buried in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong, grave reference 1.B.41.
Read more about this topic: Douglas Ford (GC)
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or war:
“Where is the world we roved, Ned Bunn?
Hollows thereof lay rich in shade
By voyagers old inviolate thrown
Ere Paul Pry cruised with Pelf and Trade.
To us old lads some thoughts come home
Who roamed a world young lads no more shall roam.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“The war shook down the Tsardom, an unspeakable abomination, and made an end of the new German Empire and the old Apostolic Austrian one. It ... gave votes and seats in Parliament to women.... But if society can be reformed only by the accidental results of horrible catastrophes ... what hope is there for mankind in them? The war was a horror and everybody is the worse for it.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)