In July 2012 nine Australian World War One soldiers were given final honour on 96th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles at a headstone dedication ceremony .
One of those nine, Scottish born, John Robertson Forrest (3064) was living in the Sydney suburb of North Ryde when he enlisted. He was 'Killed in Action' on 19 July 1916. We had already identified him as one of our 'Ryde goes to War' soldiers because his name is listed on the Eastwood War Memorial, the memorial in St Anne's Anglican Church Ryde and the Ryde Council Memorial Book (located in the Ryde Civic Centre). We only recently discovered that he was among those recently identified at Pheasant Wood and finally given a headstone.
The dedication ceremony, Fromelles, France.
Photo: Kim Phillips, July 2012.
Name
|
Unit
|
Address at Enlistment
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Occupation at Enlistment
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Place of Enlistment
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Date of Enlistment
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Age at Embarkation
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Marital Status
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Comments
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PTE John Forrest
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54th Battalion
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North Ryde, Sydney NSW
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Carter
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Liverpool NSW
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2 Jul 15
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24
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Single
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Born in Scotland
Previous service in 6th Gordon Highlanders, British Army |
Further details:
http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2012/07/20/parliamentary-secretary-for-defence-australian-soldiers-given-final-honour-on-96th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-fromelles/
John Forrest, joins another 'Ryde goes to War' soldier already identified with a headstone Pheasant Wood, Fromelles, France. Laurence Harriott (4509), also a member of the 54th Battalion was also 'Killed in Action' on 19 July 1916. A photo of Laurence is available on the Australian War Memorial Website. http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/H06405
Laurence Harriott headstone
at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles, France.
Photo: Kim Phillips, July 2012.
at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles, France.
Photo: Kim Phillips, July 2012.
