BASSFORD, Horace
| Service Number: | NX51474 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 June 1940, Paddington, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/20th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Leicester, England, 8 January 1904 |
| Home Town: | Liverpool, Fairfield, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Belgrave National School, Belgrave, Leicester, England |
| Occupation: | Lidcombe Hospital Employee |
| Died: | Accidental (motorcycle crash), Canterbury District Hospital, New South Wales, Australia, 30 August 1946, aged 42 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales Cremation - Forces Memorial Wall, Niche 6sa, Rookwood Crematorium, Rookwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
Biography
Horace Robert BASSFORD was born on 8th January, 1904 in Leicester, England
His parents were William BASSFORD and Clara WOODIER who married in 1900 in Leicester, UK.
He enlisted on 27th June 1940 with the Australian Army - His posting on discharge on 4th December, 1945 was with the 2/20 Australian Infantry Battalion - He was a Prisoner of War in Japan
Horace died on 30th August, 1946 in an accident between the motor cycle he was riding & a Military truck in Bankstown, NSW He was on his way to work at Lidcombe State Hospital but was taken to Canterbury Hospital where he died at 7pm the same day
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The Leader, Liverpool - 5th September, 1946
The tragic death occurred on Friday last at Canterbury District Hospital of Mr. Horace Robert Bassford of Glenfield Road, Glenfield
Mr. Bassford who was only 42 years of age and a native of England had served overseas with the A.I.F. having been a prisoner of war in Japanese hands for three & a half years.
His death was the result of a collision between the motor cycle he was riding and a military truck at the intersection of Joseph St & Hume Highway, Bankstown. He was on his way to his work at the Lidcombe State Hospital when the accident occurred. Taken to hospital by ambulance, he died at 7pm the same day.
It was exactly twelve months since Mrs. Bassford had been notified by the authorities of his recovery from the Japs after his having been missing for a long time
At Glenfield & Crossroads where the Bassford family is well known and respected, news of Mr. Bassfords death came as a great shock. A large and representative funeral took place at Rookwood Crematorium on Monday after a serivce at St Lukes Church, Liverpool, Rev. R. Walker conducted the service at the church and the crematorium
During the final ceremony, returned soldier comrades of the dead man formed up while a representative recited the solemn
"They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. Lest we forget"
All the returned soldiers then responded, "Lest we forget" and a sprig of Rosemary was placed on the Bier
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