Fordham Abbott
Fordham Abbott
Date of Birth 8 August 1876
Place of Residence Launceston Tasmania Australia
Spouses Name Hilda M Bezett
Childrens Names Fordham Bezett


Fordham Abbott was born in Launceston on 8 Aug 1879, the fifth of six surviving children of William Abbott (1830-1887), watchmaker of Brisbane Street, Launceston, and Hannah Marshall who were married on 1 Jul 1863. Ford had one sister and four brothers. His aunt Mary Burbury and Burbury cousins are also in the Launceston Family Album.

In 1899 Fordham married Hilda Bezett in Sydney. They had one son, Fordham Bezett, in 1901. Hilda died in 1910. Fordham was a storekeeper and 38 years old when he enlisted on 20 Apr 1915 as a private in the Australian Army Service Corps, 7th Company, 8th Reinforcements. His unit embarked for Egypt on the Runic on 9 Aug 1915. He had recurring problems with his left knee and returned to Australia on 11 May 1916. He was discharged, medically unfit, on 17 Aug 1916.

Fordham left his 14-year-old son with his maternal grandmother, Harriet Bezett, at Potts Point when he joined the AIF. Fordham died in his 52nd year in 1928.

Marion Sargent Jul 2011