34th Battalion, Australian Infantry (Australian Army)
Died:
07/06/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
60
Summary
George Forrest hailed from Stewartstown, County Tyrone. George enlisted on 19th January 1916 with the Australian Infantry. Forrest was a labourer prior to enlisting. He had been in the army for many years. He served as batman to Captain H W Matthews throughout the South African War. Private George Forrest was killed in action by a shell explosion at Messines, Belgium, shortly after commencement of the attack on 7 June 1917. He was about 60 years of age.
Further Information
George Forrest hailed from Stewartstown, County Tyrone. It is believed he was born about 1857.
George emigrated to Australia.
Private George Forrest was a batman for Captain H W Matthews. George had been with Captain Matthews throughout the South African War.
George enlisted as a soldier on 19 January 1916 with A Company 34 Battalion of the Australian Infantry. He had begged to be allowed to take part in the big advance at Messines on 7th June 1917. By no wish of his Captain did he do so.
Forrest was a labourer prior to enlisting in January 1916 and, as stated on his enlistment papers, a member of A Battery, New South Wales, for 19 years and on active service in South Africa.
George was listed a 45 year old labourer, but he was in fact 59 years old. He was a widower.
He had served in the Colonial Military Forces in NSW from 1883 and, as 1090 Driver George Forrest, served in an artillery unit in the Sudan from March to June 1885.
A signed photo of George Forrest "Sincerely Yours, G Forrest"
From 1899 until 1902, 1090 Gunner Forrest served in South Africa with A Battery Royal Australian Artillery.
He initially gave his next of kin as John James Forrest, a brother from Newcastle, New South Wales. This was later changed to his daughter, Miss L E Forrest, ‘Duran’ 55 Liverpool Street, Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales.
On 2 May 1916, Private Forrest embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Hororata (A20) and arrived for service on the Western Front in November 1916.
On the morning of the 7th, between the hours of 3 and 8, Private George Forrest was killed instantly by a shell near Ploegsteert. It is believed he was aged about 60.
Private George Forrest was buried next day in company with many others. His grave was later lost.
Military Notes:
30th Battalion A.I.F. - 66 Private G Forrest - Killed in action 7th June 1917. He was batman to Captain W H Matthews and begged to be allowed to take part in the big advance at Messines on 7th June 1917. By no wish of his Captain did he do so. On the morning of the 7th, between the hours of 3 and 8, he was killed instantly by a shell near Ploegsteert. He was buried next day in company with many others. I was not an eye witness to the burial. Captain Matthews has since returned to Australia and is residing at Wallsend, New South Wales. Private Forrest was described as about 5ft 8 with a heavy grey moustache. He was aged about 59 years old. Home address: Angledool Post Office, New South Wales. Informant: Corporal H W Fraser, 34th Battalion.
Military Notes:
34th Australian Imperial Force. 66 Private G Forrest. A Company, 3rd Platoon. Missing in action 7th June 1917. Private G Forrest, who was my servant, and a brave good soldier, who had been all through the South African War, was with me in an attack on the Germans at Messines. We went over together and he was never seen again. I do not believe he was taken prisoner, because we were pursuing them long after, and they were too far away. I feel sure he was blown up in our own big mines. I have a photograph of him. Eye witness: Yes. Description: Age about 60, grey moustache, typical Irish face, not very tall. Informant: Captain H W Matthews, 34th Australian Imperial Force, A Company, 3rd Platoon. 3rd General Hospital, G. L. Ward, Wandsworth, London SW. Home address: 3 Hufford Terrace, South Lambeth SW. Dated 7th September 1917.
Military Notes:
Killed in action 7th June 1917
Military Notes:
34th Australian Imperial Force. 66 Private G Forrest. A Company, 4th Platoon. Missing in action 7th –11th June 1917. I saw him killed at Messines. I assisted to bury him at place of casualty and the grave was not then marked, but it was seen to have been later. I knew him very well. He was the only man of that name in the Company. Witness: Private A R Pincher 1893, 34th Battalion, A Company, 4th Platoon. 3rd A A Hospital, Dartford.
Private George Forrest has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial
George Forrest was a brother of John Forrest who lived at High Cross, Tullyhogue.
George Forrest had a daughter, Linda Elizabeth Forrest, whom he had not seen in many years.
