Pvt. Adolph Forbes #292047 was born to Thomas Jr. and Mary Forbes in Merrickville, ON on June 18, 1884. He was the second of four siblings which included Elizabeth, Mansell and Ellen. He was also known as Rudolph Forbes. He lived right beside his grandparents Thomas and Mary Forbes and his aunt Elizabeth in District 82 of Wolford Township where they all worked as farmers. His family and neighbours were all of Irish descent. His father drowned in the Rideau Canal in 1905. He lived in Morris, Manitoba at the time of his enlistment.
Pvt. Forbes enlisted on Dec. 20, 1915 in Morris, MB at the age of 29 and was assigned initially to the 106th Winnipeg Light Infantry, then the 222nd battalion and finally the 44th battalion. He was 5’7, 38” chest, 195 lbs, single, blue eyes and fair hair. He listed his mother, Mary Forbes of Merrickville, ON as his next-of-kin, his occupation as bricklayer, and his religion as Church of England. Pvt. Forbes wrote a will on Oct. 2, 1916 leaving everything to his mother. His mother who lived in Merrickville at the time also received his $15 a month pay, his medals, decorations, plaque, scroll and a Memorial Cross.
On Nov. 13, 1916, Pvt. Forbes left Halifax on the SS Olympic and arrived in England a week later with the 222nd. He was drafted to the 44th battalion on Dec. 28, 1916 and left for France the next day.
The 44th battalion moved into the front lines near the Zouave Valley on Feb 11. They did an attack the next day and advanced by 400 yards. Two days later, a very successful raid was completed. On Feb 13, 41 dugouts were destroyed, 40 yards of wire blown away and 7 mine shafts were demolished with 8 men killed and 15 missing. On Feb 16, it was stated that 2 men were wounded, day was normal and weather was misty. On Feb 17, it was stated that the situation was normal, weather was fine and 6 men were killed and two wounded.
Pvt. Forbes officially died Feb. 16, 1917 in the trenches near Souchez while with the 44th battalion. He was buried in the Villers Station Military Cemetery grave reference VII.B.14 in the Pas-de-Calais, France.This cemetery was begun by the French but was used by Commonwealth divisions and field ambulances from the time they took over this part of the front in July 1916 until September 1918. It is associated particularly with the Canadian Corps whose headquarters were nearby and many of the graves in Plots V to X date from April 1917 and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. After the Armistice, a few graves were brought in from isolated positions in the neighbourhood and in June 1923, the French graves were removed, the great majority to Notre Dame-de-Lorette French National Cemetery. Villers Station Cemetery now contains 1,208 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 32 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. He is commemorated on page 238 of the Book of Remembrance.
Pvt. Forbes enlisted on Dec. 20, 1915 in Morris, MB at the age of 29 and was assigned initially to the 106th Winnipeg Light Infantry, then the 222nd battalion and finally the 44th battalion. He was 5’7, 38” chest, 195 lbs, single, blue eyes and fair hair. He listed his mother, Mary Forbes of Merrickville, ON as his next-of-kin, his occupation as bricklayer, and his religion as Church of England. Pvt. Forbes wrote a will on Oct. 2, 1916 leaving everything to his mother. His mother who lived in Merrickville at the time also received his $15 a month pay, his medals, decorations, plaque, scroll and a Memorial Cross.
On Nov. 13, 1916, Pvt. Forbes left Halifax on the SS Olympic and arrived in England a week later with the 222nd. He was drafted to the 44th battalion on Dec. 28, 1916 and left for France the next day.
The 44th battalion moved into the front lines near the Zouave Valley on Feb 11. They did an attack the next day and advanced by 400 yards. Two days later, a very successful raid was completed. On Feb 13, 41 dugouts were destroyed, 40 yards of wire blown away and 7 mine shafts were demolished with 8 men killed and 15 missing. On Feb 16, it was stated that 2 men were wounded, day was normal and weather was misty. On Feb 17, it was stated that the situation was normal, weather was fine and 6 men were killed and two wounded.
Pvt. Forbes officially died Feb. 16, 1917 in the trenches near Souchez while with the 44th battalion. He was buried in the Villers Station Military Cemetery grave reference VII.B.14 in the Pas-de-Calais, France.This cemetery was begun by the French but was used by Commonwealth divisions and field ambulances from the time they took over this part of the front in July 1916 until September 1918. It is associated particularly with the Canadian Corps whose headquarters were nearby and many of the graves in Plots V to X date from April 1917 and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. After the Armistice, a few graves were brought in from isolated positions in the neighbourhood and in June 1923, the French graves were removed, the great majority to Notre Dame-de-Lorette French National Cemetery. Villers Station Cemetery now contains 1,208 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 32 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. He is commemorated on page 238 of the Book of Remembrance.