| John Forrest was the son of John and Rachel Forrest. John Forrest and Rachael Wilson were married on 7th August 1881 in the district of Cookstown.
|
| John was born on 24th April 1892 in the Cookstown area. He was one of seven children.
|
| Family: John Forrest, Rachel Forrest, Ellen J Forrest (born 29th October 1882), Margaret Forrest (born 25th July 1885), Joseph Forrest (born 31st August 1887), John Forrest (born 24th April 1892), Rachel Forrest (born about 1894), Agnes Forrest (born 13th July 1896), Richard Wilson Forrest (born 20th September 1898).
|
| The 1901 census records that the family lived in Highcross, Tullyhogue. They were a farming family. John was nine years old.
|
| John’s mother, Rachael Forrest, died on 7th April 1909 in the Cookstown area, aged 53.
|
| The 1911 census lists John as age 18, living with the family at house 1 in Highcross, Tullaghoge. John’s father was a widower and a farmer. John was a farm labourer.
|
| John Forrest worked in the United States of America for some years.
|
| John returned to Britain in January 1915 and was employed in the production of torpedoes in Scotland.
|
| Newspaper reports note he was highly regarded by all who knew him and by all reports he had a kind good-natured disposition.
|
| John Forrest joined the Royal Navy in on 12th August 1915 and received his training in Portsmouth.
|
|
| John qualified as a 1st Class Stoker and was posted to H.M.S Victory.
|
|
|
| Stoker John Forest joined H.M.S Hampshire on 5th June 1916.
|
|
| HMS Hampshire
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 29th January 1916: Orange Intelligence
|
|
| Sherrygroom L.O.L met on 19th January, Br. W S Davis, W.M., presiding. The good attendance included Br. Corporal Robert Bell, 1st Inniskillings, who was severely wounded at the Dardanelles, and Br. J Forrest, Royal Navy, a member of Lodge No 158, to both of whom the W.M. extended a hearty welcome. The lodge was then raised to the Archpurple Degree and one eligible candidate was initiated by Br. William McVey, Lodge 171, to whom a hearty vote of thanks was accorded for having come such a long distance. A social hour followed, when songs were rendered by Brs. Forrest, Thornberry, Spiers, Wilson, Latimer, McVey and Hegarty. The stewards were Brs. Hill, Martin and Wilson.
|
| 1st Class Stoker John Forrest was serving on board H.M.S Hampshire when it was struck a mine off the Orkney Isles and sunk on 5th June 1916.
|
| 643 sailors were lost including John Forrest and James Devlin from Killeenan, Kildress, Cookstown.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 10th June 1916:
|
|
| We regret to learn that a young man named John Forrest, Low Cross, Tullyhogue, about 20 years of age, who joined the Navy about 12 months ago, was attached to the ‘Hampshire’, as a stoker, when last heard from, and it is feared he is lost.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 17th June 1916:
|
|
| Stoker John Forrest, who was lost with H.M.S. Hampshire, sunk on 5th June 1916. He was the second son of Mr John Forrest, High Cross, Tullyhogue, and was 24 years of age. He joined the Navy in August 1915. Previously he was for some years in the United States, from which he returned in January 1915, and was employed in the making of torpedoes in Scotland up to joining the Navy. He was trained in Portsmouth and qualified as a first class stoker. He joined the Hampshire at the beginning of the present year. He was a kindly, good-natured youth, and prior to going abroad was much respected by his many friends and companions. The greatest sympathy is felt for his relatives.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 8th July 1916: Magill Orange Standard L.O.L. 158.
|
|
| The officers and members of the above lodge deeply regret the death of Bro. John Forrest, junior, High Cross, who was such a loyal and well beloved member of same. Shortly after the outbreak of war he volunteered and joined the Navy to help defend the Empire, and after a term of service lost his life on HMS Hampshire off the Orkney Islands along with others. Br. Forrest was always ready to help with both money and deed, and gained for himself the esteem and good wish of all. Great sympathy is felt for his parents and the rest of the family on their sad bereavement. Thomas J McReynolds, Secretary. William Kelly. W.M.
|
| Earl Lord Kitchener was on H.M.S Hampshire, travelling to Russia on diplomatic duties. Perhaps one of the most familiar names relating to the First World War is that of Earl Lord Herbert Kitchener, who was born at Ballylongford in County Kerry in 1850. He had served with great distinction in the Middle East, Egypt and the Boer War. He became the Secretary of State for War at the out break of World War 1 and was the distinctive face of recruitment posters and advertising campaigns the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland. He was lost at sea while on a diplomatic mission to Russia, when HMS Hampshire was sunk. In subsequent years many conspiracy theories have risen surrounding his death and the sinking of the Hampshire.
|
| Lord Kitchener was immortalised in the World War One recruiting poster
|
|
| Stoker John Forrest is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, England.
|
|
| Stoker John Forrest is also commemorated on Stewartstown Cenotaph and Donaghendry Church of Ireland Roll of Honour, Stewartstown.
|
| The CWGC record 1st Class Stoker John Forrest as the son of John and Rachael Forrest, of High Cross, Tullyhogue, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.
|
|
