Apr 1, 1890

Born at the city of Hamilton, Wentworth County, Ontario

I could not find any indication that Nancy had died, nor could I find any evidence of a divorce.  However, when he Attested into the 21st Battalion, he stated that he was single.  In the 1911 Census she is listed as married, but the head of her household.  There are several lodgers at the same address and it would appear that she running a boarding house not far from Hamilton and living with her daughter Leta who was fathered by Allan.

Nov 18, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59330 (temporary number 1121)

Ø      Next of kin given as L. Forbes (brother Lawrence) of the USA Navy

Ø      Previous occupation given as Sailor

o       Later recorded as Painter

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to “E” Company as a Bugler

o       This was later reorganized into “C” Company 

On Attestation he gave his birth year as being 1888 and stated that he was single

Apr 1, 1915

Appointed to provisional rank of Lance Cpl without pay

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp near Hythe, Kent 

Appointed to rank of Lance Cpl with pay

Jun 5, 1915

Admitted to Moore Barracks Hospital Shorncliffe, diagnosed with Gonorrhea

Jun 7, 1915

Transferred to St Martin’s Plain Hospital at Shorncliffe

Jun 20, 1915

Discharged to duty

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in appointment of L/Cpl

Sep 1, 1915

Will made out leaving his estate to his mother, Mrs George Forbes at 194 Locke St N, Hamilton Ontario

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer

Jun 16, 1916

Admitted to the No 2 DRS (Divisional Rest Station) at Mont des Cats, diagnosed with Pyrexia (more commonly referred to as Trench Fever) 

The No 2 DRS was located at the No 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance)

Jun 22, 1916

Discharged to duty from DRS

Jun 26, 1916

Admitted to No 4 CFA diagnosed with PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) which is another term for Trench Fever

Jun 28, 1916

Transferred to NM CCS (North Midland Casualty Clearing Station)  

Transferred the same day to No 2 DRS

Jul 5, 1916

Discharged to duty from No 2 DRS

Jul 11, 1916

Severely reprimanded for “Absence without leave while on Duty Band”

Aug 16, 1916

Promoted to rank of Cpl to replace Cpl TE Brady 59090 who had been invalided to England wounded

Sep 17, 1916

Appointed to rank of L/Sgt to replace L/Sgt Godfrey 59374 who had been invalided to England wounded

Oct 31, 1916

Proceeded on the Machine Gun course at Camiers

Nov 15, 1916

At duty from course

Nov 17, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

Nov 27, 1916

At duty from leave

Jan 17, 1917

Appointed to rank of Acting Sgt with pay to replace A/Sgt Whitelaw 60058 who had been admitted to hospital 

This was the date of the Calonne Trench Raid which the Battalion captured over 100 prisoners and caused much damage to the German trenches. 

More can be read about this raid in a paper written by Andrew Godefroy in pdf format here

Feb 1, 1917

Promoted to rank of Sgt to replace Sgt Whitelaw 60058 who had been invalided to England

Mar 12, 1917

Awarded the Military Medal per London Gazette number 29981

This was awarded for his actions during the trench raid held on January 17, 1917

The citation reads

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack on the German Lines.  This NCO had charge of the 1st party to enter the enemy's trench and displayed great skill in handling his men.  He assisted in the capture of several prisoners, and showed great coolness and resource throughout the whole operation.

AFW 3121.

Mar 26, 1917

Reverts to permanent grade of Cpl, but retains appointment of L/Sgt upon leaving the Battalion for the Base Depot

Mar 29, 1917

TOS (Taken On Strength) CBD (Canadian Base Depot) as “TB” (Temporary Base) which is a medical category meaning that he is restricted Base Duty temporarily and not able to be at the front

Jun 6, 1917

Attached to No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) for duty

Oct 18, 1917

Classified “PB” (Permanent Base) which is a medical category meaning that he is restricted Base Duty and not able to be at the front

Nov 13, 1917

Granted 14 days leave

Nov 28, 1917

At duty from leave

Feb 27, 1918

Proceeded on Escort Duty to Paris

Feb 28, 1918

Returned to duty from Escort Duty

Mar 20, 1918

Reclassified “A” meaning that he is no longer restricted to Base Duty and is now a recuperating soldier and began training for the front

Apr 6, 1918

Left CIBD and proceeded to CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Centre)

Apr 7, 1918

Admitted to No 23 CCS diagnosed with Tonsillitis

Apr 8, 1918

Transferred via No 3 Ambulance Train and admitted to No 3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne

Apr 12, 1918

Transferred to No 10 Convalescent Depot

Apr 14, 1918

Discharged to No 5 Rest Camp

Apr 16, 1918

Discharged from No 10 Convalescent Depot on proceeding to No 2 CIBD

Apr 19, 1918

Proceeded to CCRC

Apr 20, 1918

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion had moved into the Support Trench at Neuville Vitasse

Jun 19, 1918

Admitted to No 4 CFA with thru and thru bullet wound penetrating both lungs and fracturing 2 ribs 

Transferred the same day to the CCS 

He was wounded during a raid on a German trench along the Arras-Bapaume Road

Jun 20, 1918

Transferred to No 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital 

Surgery performed to remove bone fragments from fractured ribs

Jun 25, 1918

Transferred to Base Hospital

Jun 26, 1918

Transferred to No 10 General Hospital at Rouen

Jun 27, 1918

An air raid was carried out on the hospital causing much stress to all the patients, and to Allan Forbes in particular

Jun 29, 1918

Added to the “dangerously ill” list

Jul 7, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Western Australia

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

Jul 8, 1918

Admitted to The King George Hospital at Stamford, London

Aug 19, 1918

Transferred to No 16 Canadian General Hospital at Orpington, Kent

Sep 26, 1918

Transferred to the Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Bexhill

Nov 4, 1918

Discharged to duty

Nov 14, 1918

Posted to 6^th Reserve Battalion

Nov 23, 1918

Granted permission to marry

Dec 17, 1918

Married Kate Emily Ponsford at Parish Church, Battle, Sussex 

Next of kin changed to read Mrs Kate Forbes (wife) c/o George Peters, Caldbec Hill, Battle, Sussex

Jan 10, 1919

Posted to EORD and attached to 6^th Reserve Battalion

Jan 21, 1919

Ceases to be attached on returning to EORD and detailed to the Depot Company at Seaford

Feb 18, 1919

Posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford

Mar 21, 1919

Placed On Command to CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) at Buxton pending return to Canada

Apr 15, 1919

Ceases to be On Command and SOS to Canada 

Embarked the RMS Corsican at Liverpool with his wife

Apr 21, 1919

Disembarked at Saint John New Brunswick

Apr 28, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Saint John New Brunswick 

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 132097

Ø      Proposed residence on discharge – 119 King St W, Kingston Ontario

Ø      Trade listed as Carriage Painter

Ø      Rank on discharge shown as Sgt

Nov 13, 1919

1914-15 Star sent to him at Kingston Ontario

Apr 19, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to GPO Kingston Ontario.  It appears that the medals were returned

Sep 19, 1921

Medals were re-sent to 12 ½  King St W, Oshawa Ontario

1923

Was living on Montrave Ave, Oshawa Ontario and employed by General Motors as a painter

1933

Was living at 159 Retson Road S, Oshawa Ontario

May 7, 1946

Died at Oshawa Ontario

  
Union Cemetery
Oshawa Ontario