George Watson Forrest, one of 6 known children all of whom survived, was the eldest of 4 brothers and 2 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. George Watson Forrest, named in honour of her father, was born November 13th 1887, 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.

George had joined the Army and at the age of 22 years in 1911 was serving as Lance Corporal in Bombay, India, with the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers which returned to England in 1913. Before the commencement of WW1, he was living at 5, Ford Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne with his brother Stephen. He re-enlisted in 1914 and given his past service history was assigned as Private 2101 Northumberland Fusiliers to the 2nd Battalion of the Regular Army which had been ordered back to England in August 1914, arriving December 22nd to join the 84th Brigade, 28th Division. Private Forrest disembarked with his regiment at Le Havre, France, January 16th 1915 which was moved immediately to Belgium participating during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-May 25th and the Battle of Loos, September 25th-October 8th 1915. The following month they were sent to Egypt, departing from Marseilles to Alexandria then on to Salonika in January 1916 engaged during the capture of Barakli Jum’a. May 15th 1917 the regiment captured Ferdie and Essex Trenches remaining in the Barakli and Kumli sectors until being withdrawn from the Salonika front, June 1918, as one of 6 battalions ordered to return to France as reinforcements for the infantry brigades of the 50th Northumbrian Division, greatly depleted after the Battle of Aisne. Many of the men arrived still suffering from malaria, after receiving treatment and retraining, limited to only four hours a day for the sick, the newly fortified Division joined the Fourth Army as part of the 23rd Corps in October 1918 and took part in the Battle of Beaurevoir from October 3rd to the 5th, capturing the village of Le Catelet at the northern end of the St. Quentin Canal and the attack at Grouy on October 8th, during the Battle of Cambrin.

After the declaration of the Armistice, November 11th 1918, the British Army servicemen were repatriated, priority was given to those suffering from poor health. Private 2101 George Watson Forrest was discharged by mid-1919, under King’s Regulations 392(xvia), “surplus to military requirements (having suffered impairment since entry into the service)”. Recipient 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 brothers Samuel and Stephen have been found. They too served with the Northumberland Fusiliers, Stephen survived the conflict, Private Samuel Forrest died of wounds sustained whilst serving in Belgium.

George was married during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1919 in the district of Newcastle to Dorothy Donkin, born January 29th 1894 and with whom he had 4 children, Frances born June 20th 1920, Dorothy, July 6th 1922, Minnie, December 25th 1926 and George Watson Jnr, November 24th 1929. In 1939 they were living at 5, Dunn Terrace, near the banks of the River Tyne where George was employed as a heavy worker/docker, Dorothy his wife and daughter Dorothy worked as rag sorters for a merchant, Frances was employed at a laundry, Minnie and George Jnr were scholars.

George Watson Forrest Snr died aged 61 years in 1949, registered in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, details as regards Dorothy Forrest nee Donkin, unknown.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

George Watson Forrest is remembered at Byker on B95.26