In Ropery Lane Cemetery Chester le Street is a family headstone for Forster which reads

In loving memory of
Mary Ellen
Beloved wife of
James Forster
of Chester Moor
died xxx May 1935? aged 75 years

also the above
James Forster
died 20th October 1951 aged 83 years

also John son of the above
killed . . . . .wireless operator
interred at ?Jask ?Persia . . . .
aged . . years.

Also Norman, son of the above
Electrocuted at Chester Moor Colliery
1st March 1932 aged 35 years
“Peace perfect peace”

Wireless operator John Forster was killed as the result of a mutiny on SS Cardium, ship number 112703, amongst the Chinese crew whilst in the Persian Gulf in which three white officers were killed. W/Op Forster was wounded and taken to hospital where he died of his wounds.

The Illustrated Chronicle 17/02/1915 carries the report:
John was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs James Forster of 29 Union Lane, Chester Moor. He was aged 21 and was employed sic in the bakery Department, by the Chester le Street Co-operative Society for at least 7 years as an apprentice.

John also played the organ at Chester Moor Mission church where he was a regular member.

About a year before his death he took up Wireless Telegraphy and being very apt and a keen learner, took part in October in the Marconi Wireless Coy exams. As a result he was sent immediately as a junior operator on a Mail Steamer between London and South Africa. On his return he was transferred to the S.S. Cardium an old steamer. He left the Tyne in the middle of December bound for India. On the 4th of February a mutiny broke out amongst the 40 Chinese crew”

Information: James Pasby

There is no CWGC entry for Wireless Operator Forster.

John Forster is remembered at Chester le Street on C105.01, C105.12, C105.15, and C105.40 and at Chester Moor on C123.02 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.