Douglas Ford (GC)
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Captain Douglas Ford was posthumously awarded the George Cross for conspicuous gallantry ' [1]. His citation was published in the London Gazette on the 18th of March, 1946.
Born in Galashiels in September, 1918, he was serving in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, when he was 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 amade 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 [2] he was executed, with two fellow prisoners, by Japanese firing squad at Big Wave Bay on the 18th of December 1943. He is buried in Stanley Prison cemetery.
The citation noted that "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."
