Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Norman Frederick Forster was born 1894 at Gateshead, County Durham, the youngest of 11 children, 7 sons and 4 daughters. His father William Forster born 1847 at Haltwhistle, Northumberland married in the district of Gateshead in 1873, Hannah Barras of Gateshead, born 1854. His father was a fruit and potato dealer, they were living in 1881 at 119, High West Street, Gateshead, above his fruit shop and where they remained until in 1901 he and the family moved to Sunderland Street, Gateshead. He was now employed as a quarryman, William (21) as a fitter at the iron and steel furnace, daughter Hannah (18) was employed as a collator at the printing works, Robert was a scholar.
Unfortunately Robert’s military record no longer exists destroyed during the blitz of WW2 it has therefore proven impossible to know his exact movements. On the outbreak of war Robert Forster enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne assigned as Private 292 to the 17th (North East Railway Pioneers) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. The 17th Battalion in January 1915 became a Pioneer Battlalion and in June joined the 32nd Division, they proceeded to France, November 22nd 1915, landing at Le Havre. They saw action during the Battles of the Somme on the first day at the Battle of Albert, July 1st-17th, they were then withdrawn. October 1916 they were transferred to GHQ as Railway Construction Troops until they rejoined the 32nd Division during the first week of September 1917 and were again transferred back to GHQ November 15th 1917. May 31st 1918 they resumed their pioneer role joining the 52nd (Lowland) Division who had just arrived on the Western Front from Palestine. They again saw action during 1918 on the Somme, at Arras, the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance to Victory in Artois.
During his service Private Forster was either wounded or suffering from disease as he was pensioned out of the Army. He died as a consequence of his war service, May 7th 1919, at Gateshead and interred at Heworth St Mary Churchyard, SE part, Heworth, County Durham with military honours.
Awards; British War Medal, Victory Medal and possibly 1914-15 Star had he served in a theatre of war during those years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Norman Frederick Forster is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
