S500
FORREST, Thomas William
| Service Number: | 2996 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 March 1916, Tumby Bay, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Port Wakefield, South Australia, 20 February 1891 |
| Home Town: | Yallunda Flat, Tumby Bay, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural causes, South Australia, 3 June 1973, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: |
Willaston General Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Kulpara District Council Roll of Honour, Port Wakefield Memorial Arch, Tumby Bay - Yallunda Flat Koppio Honour Roll, Tumby Bay Great War Honor Roll, Yallunda Flat Memorial Park |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2996, Tumby Bay, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2996, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Bakara embarkation_ship_number: A41 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2996, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Bakara, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2996, 9th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 18 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2996, 9th Light Horse Regiment |
Help us honour Thomas William Forrest's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Thomas WIlliam Forrest was born on the 20th of February 1891, in Port Wakefield, South Australia. Private Forrest was the son of Father Thomas Forrest and Margaret (Patterson) Forrest. He had 2 siblings, Joseph Walter Forrest and James Charles Forrest. Forrest worked as a Farmer. Prior to the war Private Forrest was unmarried. His Attestation Papers described him as 5 feet 9 inches or 175 centimetres, with a weight of 122 Pounds or 55.34kg. Other physical traits include a Sallow complexion, grey eyes, also chest measurement of 33-36 ½. Forrest identified as a Methodist.
On the 11th of March 1916, Private Forrest enlisted at the age of 25. Forrest embarked from Adelaide, on the His Majesty's Australian Transport Bakara (fleet no. A41), on the 4th of November 1916. He arrived in a Military Base and was then transferred to Isolation camp on the 11th of November 1916, a temporary camp for health checks and quarantine. Forrest marched out on the 14th of December 1916 and was sent to the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment (training camp) in Egypt. He was taken on strength 27 January 1917 with the 9th Light Horse Regiment. In August 1917 he spent a short time in Rest Camp he fought at Maghdaba from 23rd of December 1916 and Rafa, from 9th January 1917. In March 1918 Forrest spent a short period in hospital with an illness. After this the 9th regiment was involved with the Es Salt raid from April to May 1918 and played a part in the capture of Jenin on 20 to 21 September and Sasa on 29 September. Forrest was also appointed to Lance Corporal on 17 May 1919
Forrest survived the war and returned to Australia 10 August 1919. He was discharged on the 18th of September 1919. Forrest married Ida Gertrude Louisa Roberts (1888-1985) in 1922.
Forrest passed on the 3rd of Jun 1973, due to natural causes. His tombstone lay in Willaston General Cemetery on plot 32 AA 1.
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