ANZAC Heroes | Great War 1914 – 1918

Bunbury – Wellington District Western Australia

FORWARD, George

FORWARD, George

Full Name: George

FORWARD

Date of Birth: 10

–

1872

Place of birth: Watervale

Australia

Occupation: Gardener

Address: 51 Fitzgerald Street Perth WA

Next of Kin: Brother-Alfred Ernest Forward

Next of Kin Address: Northam WA

Religion: Church of England

Service Number: 2907

Rank: Private

Unit/Division: 51st Battalion

Enlistment Date: 1916-06-08

Enlistment Location: Blackboy Hill

WA

Embarkation Port:

Embarkation Date: 1916-11-09

Embarkation Ship:

Disembarkation Port:

Disembarkation Date: 1917-01-10

Locations Served:

,

Returned: No

Discharge Date:

Cause of Death: KIA

Date of Death:

Place of Death: Messines Ridge, Belgium

Age at Death: 45

Burial Location: Inscription Menin Gate Memorial Ieper Belgium- No Known Grave

8/06/1916- Completed Medical Examination Perth WA
10/07/1916-To 77 Depot as Private
1/08/1916-To 51st Battalion 8th Reinforcements Blackboy Hill WA
4/09/1916-To 51st Battalion 7th Reinforcements Blackboy Hill WA
10/01/1917-to 13th Training Battalion Codford England
9/05/1917-Proceeded Overseas 4th Aust Division Base Depot Etaples France ex Folkestone ex Codford
13/05/1917-Joined 51st Battalion in the field France
10/06/1917-KILLED IN ACTION Messines Ridge, Belgium

 

Service Medals Awarded

British War Medal – No. 53265

Victory Medal – No. 52503

Memorial Plaque/Scroll – No. 325651

 

Memorial Inscriptions

Menin Gate Memorial,  Ieper, Belgium

Memorial Cross- Messines Ridge British Cemetery Memorial Plot Row B

Australian War Memorial Canberra – Panel No. 152

Collie War Memorial, Western Australia.

 

Details of Soldier’s Burial Shortly after Death

21/11/1917-Informant -Director of Graves -” Buried on West Bank of Yser Canal 6 Miles South of Ypres “.

19/06/1920- Informant – No. 2885- COMBS, Cpl. W. F. – 51st Battalion- ” Private FORWARD was in the front line of trenches  in the Messines area about June 8th 1917, when the enemy counter-attacked  and FORWARD was killed instantly by Shell Fire.  He was buried near Rifle Farm, Messines, by some of his comrades, but I do not remember the names.  FORWARD was of medium height, slight build, aged about 40, nicknamed Jimmy and was in A Company”.