Alfred William Forder was born on 14 June 1880 in Paddington, Middlesex, (now Greater London), the eighth of the eleven children of Edward Forder (1851-1937) and Rachel Forder née Thain (1850-1934). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1880 in the Kensington registration district, London.
In the 1881 census he is shown as aged 9 months, living at 5 Sale Street, Paddington, (now renamed to Sale Place), with his parents and seven siblings: Eleanor Forder (1867-1943); Fanny Maria Forder (1870-1964); Edward James Forder (1872-1956); Flora Marion Forder (1874-1962); Kate Forder (1877-1963); Laura Forder (1877-1959) and Rachel Margaret Forder (1878-1965). His father was described as a house decorator.
On 4 November 1883 both he and his brother, Alexander Walter Forder (1883-1957), were baptised at St Michael and All Angels Church, Paddington, where the baptismal registers show the family still residing at 5 Sale Street, and their father was again listed as a house decorator.
He is shown as aged 10 years in the 1891 census living at 11 St Marys Terrace, Paddington, with his parents, nine of his siblings: Eleanor; Fanny; Edward; Flora; Kate; Laura; Rachel; Alexander and Hilda Mary Forder (1887-1925), his cousin Ellen Forder, together with one female and three male lodgers. His father was still shown as a decorator whilst his mother and sisters, Fanny & Flora, were listed as dress makers.
On 8 January 1896 he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class, and on 17 September 1896 became a Boy First Class. On his 18th birthday, 14 June 1898, he signed on for 12 years, service number 187484, as an Ordinary Seaman. He was promoted to Able Seaman on 28 January 1900 and to Leading Seaman on 28 August 1903.
He was at home, 11 St Mary's Terrace, Paddington, when the 1901 census was undertaken and was shown as a Royal Navy sailor residing with his parents, six of his siblings: Kate; Laura; Rachel; Alexander; Hilda and Winifred Eveline Forder (1892-1980), together with two cousins and three lodgers. His father was still shown as a decorator, his mother and sisters, Laura & Rachel, were listed as dress makers and his brother Alexander was described as a telegraphist.
He was medically discharged from the Royal Navy in June 1905 suffering from a tubercular testicle having served 9 years and 8 months and in the 1911 census he is shown as a painter's labourer living in a 13 roomed property at 20 Manor Place, Paddington Green, London, with his parents, four siblings: Rachel; Kate; Alexander & Winifred, together with three boarders. His father was listed as a decorator, his mother & sister Rachel as dress makers, Alexander was a P.O. sorter and Winifred was a P.O. female sorter.
On 3 June 1911 he married Kate Dear (1888-1966) in the Paddington registration district and their daughter Kathleen Margaret Forder (1911-1989) was born on 6 November 1911.
On 7 December 1915 he enlisted as a Private in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, service number 28472, and was placed in the Army Reserve. On his enlistment form he was shown as a painter living at 6 Stourcliffe Street, Marylebone, London. On 19 June 1916 he was mobilised as a Rifleman and on 1 September 1916 he was transferred to the Rifle Brigade, service number 26824, joining the British Expeditionary Force in France on 12 October 1916 in the regiment's 16th Battalion. He was posted to the regiment's 2nd Battalion on 2 November 1916.
On 10 January 1917 he was awarded seven days Field Punishment No.2 for having on the previous day been reported for irregular conduct i.e. spitting in the ranks.
He was listed as missing in action on 16 August 1917 and as he has no known grave he is commemorated on Stone 146 on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Vijfwegestraat, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium.
His widow was awarded a pension of 18s-9d per week for herself and one child with effect from 15 April 1918. On 11 September 1918 she was sent his army effects totalling £2-2s-5d. On 19 May 1919 she was sent the Next of Kin Memorial Plaque, Scroll and King’s Message and on 4 November 1919 she was sent his £4-0s-0d war gratuity. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as Rifleman A. W. Forder 2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade on the Quebec Chapel war memorial in London and is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
