Colonel F. C. Ord CB VD TD DL (born 1851)

Frederick Cusac Ord was the son of General Frederick W. Craven Ord, R.A. (1825-1894) of Beverley Lodge, Lexden Road, Colchester. He was born at Woolwich in 1851. He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military Academy. He joined the Royal Atillery in 1869 and served in India, 1876-77.

Thomas Onesiphorus Tyndall of The Fort, Bristol, married Caroline Lucy Elton on the 25 April 1844, in Clevedon, Somerset, England. They had 6 daughters, one of which was Alice Jane, whom Ord married in 1876.

He was promoted to Captain in 1880, and was Adjutant of the Manchester Artillery from 1880 to 1885. On retirement from the Royal Artillery in 1885, he joined the Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery as a Major and succeeded command of the Corps on 7 December 1889 from Colonel A. H. Versturme who has relinquished the post.

On 17 August 1900, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant and made Honorary Colonel of the brigade. On 15 March 1901, he retired and under paragraph 55A. Volunteer Regulations, was granted permission to retain his rank and to wear the uniform of the Corps on retirement. His retirement was cancelled a week later on 26 March 1901.

On 8 November 1907, the London Gazette announced, "The Most Honourable Order of the Bath. To be a Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the third class, or companions: Honorary Colonel Frederick Cusac Ord, late Captain, Royal Artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant, 1st Gloucestershire Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteer)."

Under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act of 1907, county Territorial Force Associationa were created. These Assocaitions were responsible for the organisation of the units of the Territorial Force within its county, and for their administration at all times except when they were called out for training, embodied, or engaged in actual military service. It would recruit the necessary men; clothe them; provide the necessary drill halls, stores, headquarters, etc; provide horses and their saddlery and harness; and provide firing ranges. It would also look after the wives and dependents of men when they were embodied, and arrange payment of separation and other allowances. The Association would also arrange for the registration of horses for army use in time of war.

Gloucester's was presided over by The Right Hon. The Earl Bathurst, C.M.G., with Colonel John Arthur Anstice, C.B. as chairman and Colonel F. C. Ord, C.B. as Vice-Chairman.

On 8 September 1908, the London Gazette announced, "Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant and Honorary Colonel Frederick Cusac Ord, from the 1st Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire and Somerset) R.G.A. (Volunteers), to be Lieutenant-Colonel with honorary rank of Colonel, with precedence as in the Volunteer Force. (To be Supernumerary)." His second in command was Lieutenant Colonlel (Honorary Colonel) A. H. Hobbs VD.

In 1909, he was presented with a tin box containing a trench art shell paper knife and a WWI Short & Mason Ltd., London, 1916 pocket compass, no. 81964. The box was inscribed "Col. F.C. ORD.C.B..V.D. From the N.C.O's & Men of the 2nd Battery. Glos. R.F.A 1909."

Gift to Colonel F. C. Ord from 2nd Battery

At the end of 1909 Colonel F.C. Ord, CB VD, retired after 20 years service with the Brigade.

On 29 March 1910, the London Gazette announced, "1st South Midland [Gloucestershire] Brigade; Lieutenant-Colonel and Honorary Colonel Frederick Cusac Ord C.B., Retired list (lately Commanding), is appointed to the honorary Colonelcy of the Brigade, Dated 8th December, 1909."

He was a member of the Junior United Service Club, S.W., and was awarded the Volunteer Officers Decoration. In 1907 and 1908 he was Warden of the Clifton Rugby Football Club and the following year, in 1909 was Master of the club. He was also the Master of the Society of Merchant Venturers. "Nature" of 10 June 1910, wrote that he would be distrubiting the prizes on the Speech Day of the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, Bristol, on Friday, 22 July 1910.

The London Gazette of 6 March 1923 nnouced that "The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Territorial Decoration upon the undermentioned Officers under the terms of the Royal Warrant dated 13th October, 1920: 66th (S. Mid.) Bde. — Hon. Col. F. C. Ord, C.B., V.D. (Capt., ret.) (Hon. Col., ret., T.F.)

He lived at Redland Hall, Bristol. He had one son, Frederick Thomas Ord, who was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. Frederick Thomas was born at Sitapur, India on 8 July 1877 but died at Milford Haven on 25 February 1898, aged just 21. He is buried in Redland church.

Sources and Resources

We would be very grateful for any further information on members of the 1st South Midland Bde RFA/ 240th Bde RFA (TF) from 1908-1919.

Derek Driscoll's original pages

Contemporary Biographies
Contemporary Biographies
Historical-Records-1859-1914 (PDF, 3.64Mb)
Historical Records of 66th (South Midland) Field Brigade R.A. (T.A.)
Historical Records of 66th (South Midland) Field Brigade R.A. (T.A.)
Orders as published in the local papers 1908
Orders as published in the local papers 1908
Orders in the local papers 1908
Sample of weekly orders 1904
Weekly orders in the local papers 1908

Other References

A rectangular tin inscribed 'Col. F.C. ORD.C.B..V.D. From the N.C.O's & Men of the 2nd Battery - Cotswold Auction Company Ltd.
County territorial association - Wikipedia
NATURE - 30 June 1910
Ornamental sword on the grave of an army officer at Redland church - Flickr
Photographs of Greensted-juxta-Ongar church and hall, Chingford, Chelmsford etc. - Essex Record Office
Territorial Force Associations - London Gazette, 14 January, 1908
The London Gazette of 8 November 1907
The London Gazette of 6 March 1923
The Merchant Venturers - Clifton Rugby Football Club History
The Territorial Force Associations - The Long, Long Trail
Thomas Onesiphorus Tyndall (1814 - 1869) - WikiTree