Ypres Town Cemetery Extension
Ypres Town Cemetery Extension
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Samuel Boustead Forrest, known as Samuel, one of 6 known children all of whom survived, was the 3rd born of 4 brothers and had 2 younger sisters. His father James Rendel Forrest was born, May 11th 1862, at Birkenhead, Cheshire, the son James and Elizabeth Forrest, brought to the north east as a child. In 1871 his father was a boot-maker in Elswick, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, before they moved for a while to Gateshead, County Durham, later returning to Newcastle where at the age of 25 James Rendel Forrest was married at All Saints, Newcastle, May 30th 1887 to local girl Ellen Watson. Their son George Watson Forrest, named in honour of her father, was born alter that year, James Jnr in 1890 and by 1891 they were living at 21, Miller’s Hill, where Samuel was born in 1892, his father was now employed as a dock yard labourer. Their daughters Mary Ann and Francis Watson Forrest were born in 1894 and 1896 respectively and Stephen Ridley Forrest in 1898. Unfortunately, Ellen Forrest nee Watson died during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1899, leaving her widowed husband with 6 children under the age of 11. James Forrest never remarried and by 1901 had moved with his children to Ford Court, just off Byker Bank, Newcastle, supporting them by working as a labourer on the quayside, ten years later he had been joined by 21-year-old James Jnr while Mary Ann (17) was employed as a general servant, Frances (15) remained at home, Stephen (13) was a scholar, they now lived in 2 rooms at Salisbury Street, Byker, George and Samuel had both left home.
Samuel in 1911 was 19 years of age and had chosen to join the Army, he was listed as a Private with the 1st East Yorkshire Regiment, stationed at Salamanca Barracks, Wellington Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire, home of the Aldershot Garrison. When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914 his term of enlistment had expired and he re-enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Private 3810 Northumberland Fusiliers. The 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, in Sabathu, India, in August 1914, was ordered to return to England, arriving December 22nd. Having been retrained Samuel was posted as Lance Corporal to the 2nd Battalion and departed with his regiment attached to the 84th Brigade, 28th Division, for France, landing at Le Havre, January 16th 1915 and sent immediately to Belgium.
Lance Corporal Samuel (Boustead) Forrest was wounded in the line of duty and taken to the 85th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps attached to the 28th Division which was concentrated between Bailleul and Hazelbrouck. Lance Corporal 3810 Samuel Forrest Northumberland Fusiliers died of his wounds, February 16th 1915, little more than 4 weeks after his arrival at the front and is now at rest within Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, grave I. E. 2. He was 22 years of age and single.
Samuel had made a will in favour of his father, as sole legitimate beneficiary James Forrest received all monies due to his son and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Although all the Forrest brothers were eligible for war service only the details of his eldest brother George Watson Forrest and younger brother Stephen have been found. They too served with the Northumberland Fusiliers and survived the conflict.
Details as regards the demise of James Rendel Forrest, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Samuel Boustead Forrest is remembered at Newcastle on NUT045 at Byker on B95.26 and at Alnwick in A11.43 page 23
