Ford, Thomas Walter (Corporal, b.1895 - d.1915); Loud, Frank Thomas (Private, b.1891 - d.1961)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 392 Corporal Thomas Walter Ford, 9 Battalion, Gallipoli; and 348 Private Frank Thomas Loud, 9 Battalion.

The collection consists of an original handwritten diary written by Ford covering the period shortly before the landing at Gallipoli. Ford was killed at the landing on 25 April 1915. The diary was then continued by Loud.

Private Frank Loud was on the first boat to land at Gallipoli and jumping ashore lost his pack. After making great forward progress and surviving furious fighting on the first two days, he finally made his way back to the beach where he found Ford's abandoned pack and re-equipped himself. Discovering the partially used diary, he continued to use it witting an account of his experience from March to August 1915 with particular detail about the Gallipoli landing and first few days of fighting. Loud survived Gallipoli and later fought on the Western Front.

Also included in the collection are some of Loud's related papers such as an unused 1914 Christmas card, pay book, rail ticket, various receipts and a certificate of discharge. A typescript of both Ford's and Loud's portions of the diary is also included. Further information can be found in an article written by Bill Gammage for "The Journal of the Australian War Memorial", April 1990, p.66.