Fordham, Hugh Alexander

Hugh was born in Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 4 March 1894 the youngest son of Edward Snow and Annie (nee Carr Jackson) Fordham. He was educated at Harrow and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge University.

In August 1914 Hugh went to Sandhurst College, as a cadet, a few days after the War broke out. In November 1914 he received a 2^nd Lieutenant’s commission with the 2^nd Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, Regimental Number 2477, and on 18 January 1915 he was sent to the Western Front, France and Flanders to the trenches. He was invalided out with severely frost-bitten feet but recovered and returned to the Front. In October 1915 Hugh was wounded by the explosion of a bomb whilst in service in the trenches but recovered in hospital at base camp.

Hugh then joined the Royal Flying Corps, as a Captain, and on 7 April 1916 took his flying certificate on a Maurice Farman Biplane, joined the Royal Air Force and was promoted to Pilot/Major. He joined the ‘C’ Flight of 14 Squadron which went to Egypt in an attempt help the Grand Sherif of Mecca stop the Turks gaining the Suez Canal. He survived the War.

Hugh was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

The 1939 census shows him, a visitor, at St Martin’s Hospital, Birmingham, an assistant sales manager.

It is not known if he married or had children.

Hugh died at Eastbourne, East Sussex on 11 November 1986.