Samuel Forsyth
Samuel Forsyth | |
---|---|
New Zealand Engineers | |
Battles/wars | First World War |
Awards | Victoria Cross |
Samuel Forsyth, VC (3 April 1892 – 24 August 1918) was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that could be awarded at the time to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born in 1892, Forsyth enlisted with the
Early life
Samuel Forsyth was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 3 April 1892, one of four children of Thomas Forsyth, a night watchman on the SS Maori of Thorndon, and his wife, Grace.[1][2][3] He attended Thorndon School and later Terrace School. After completing his education, he found employment as a gold amalgamator for the Monowai Gold Mining Company based at Thames.[4]
Forsyth participated in charity work, volunteering for the Sailor's Friend Society. He was also interested in the military and in 1910, joined the
First World War
On 13 August 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Forsyth enlisted in the
Forsyth landed at
Western Front
On recovering his health, in April 1916 Forsyth was posted to the NZEF base at
Forsyth was promoted to acting
The following March saw the commencement of the German spring offensive and the involvement of the New Zealand Division in holding the frontline. The New Zealand Engineers built and improved defensive positions during this time.[19] By the end of this defensive phase of the fighting, Forsyth had attained the rank of sergeant,[9] having been promoted to this rank on 15 May 1918.[5]
In late August 1918, Forsyth was on a temporary attachment to the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment, during the early stages of the Hundred Days Offensive. He was on probation for a commission in his unit and his attachment to the battalion was to gain front-line experience. On 24 August 1918, during the Second Battle of Bapaume, the battalion was ordered to capture of the village of Grévillers.[20] On reaching the outskirts of the village, German machine gun fire prevented any further forward movement. Forsyth, scouting ahead of his platoon, made contact with two British tanks and despite being exposed to the German machine guns, guided them in, providing covering fire for the New Zealanders. One tank was soon crippled by artillery fire. Despite having been wounded in the arm, he assisted its crew to evacuate the tank and then organised them, along with several other soldiers, into a flanking party to attack the machine gun nest holding up the advance. The Germans shortly withdrew and the advance was able to continue. Forsyth set about organising defensive positions but was fatally shot by a sniper.[21]
Forsyth's actions were instrumental in the capture of Grévillers and it was for this that he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC).[20] The VC, instituted in 1856, was the highest award for valour that could be bestowed on a soldier of the British Empire.[22] The citation for Forsyth's VC read:
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On nearing the objective, his company came under heavy machine-gun fire. Through Serjt. Forsyth's dashing leadership and total disregard of danger, three machine-gun positions were rushed and the crews taken prisoner before they could inflict many casualties on our troops. During subsequent advance his company came under heavy fire from several machine guns, two of which he located by a daring reconnaissance. In his endeavour to gain support from a Tank, he was wounded, but after having the wound bandaged, he again got in touch with the Tank, which in the face of very heavy fire from machine guns and anti-Tank guns, he endeavoured to lead with magnificent coolness to a favourable position. The Tank, however, was put out of action. Serjt. Forsyth then organised the Tank crew and several of his men into a section, and led them to a position where the machine guns could be outflanked. Always under heavy fire, he directed them into positions which brought about a retirement of the enemy machine guns and enabled the advance to continue. This gallant N.C.O. was at that moment killed by a sniper. From the commencement of the attack until the time of his death Serjt. Forsyth's courage and coolness, combined with great power of initiative proved an invaluable incentive to all who were with him and he undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades.
— The London Gazette, No. 30967, 18 October 1918[23]
Forsyth is one of 70 New Zealanders buried at
Medal
Notes
- ^ McGibbon 2000, p. 177.
- ^ "All Sorts of People". New Zealand Free Lance. Vol. XVIII, no. 957. 14 November 1918. p. 4. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Birth search: registration number 1892/6442". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Gliddon 2014, p. 103.
- ^ a b c d e f "Military Personnel File: Forsyth, Samuel". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ McGibbon 2002, p. 34.
- ^ McGibbon 2002, p. 35.
- ^ Shera 1927, p. 59.
- ^ a b c d e Gliddon 2014, p. 104.
- ^ McGibbon 2002, p. 40.
- ^ Shera 1927, pp. 95–96.
- ^ Shera 1927, pp. 99.
- ^ Shera 1927, pp. 104–105.
- ^ Shera 1927, p. 134.
- ^ Shera 1927, p. 142.
- ^ Shera 1927, p. 148.
- ^ Shera 1927, p. 154.
- ^ Shera 1927, p. 155.
- ^ McGibbon 2002, p. 52.
- ^ a b Harper & Richardson 2007, pp. 164–165.
- ^ Harper 2007, pp. 389–390.
- ^ O'Shea 2000, pp. 558–559.
- ^ "No. 30967". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 October 1918. pp. 12487–12488.
- ^ McGibbon 2001, p. 61.
- ^ "Forsyth, Samuel". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ^ "Graves of Note". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "War Honours". Evening Post. No. XCVII, issue 26. 30 January 1919. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^ "Samuel Forsyth VC". Lord Ashcroft Medals. Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
References
- Gliddon, Gerald (2014) [2004]. Road to Victory 1918. ISBN 978-0-7509-5361-0.
- ISBN 978-1-86950-650-6.
- Harper, Glyn (2007). Dark Journey: Three Key New Zealand Battles of the Western Front. Auckland, New Zealand: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-1-86950-579-0.
- ISBN 0-19-558376-0.
- ISBN 978-0-19-558444-8.
- McGibbon, Ian (2002). Kiwi Sappers: The Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers' Century of Service. Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Books. ISBN 978-0-7900-0827-1.
- O'Shea, Phillip (2000). "Victoria Cross". In McGibbon, Ian (ed.). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History. Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford University Press. pp. 558–561. ISBN 978-0-19-558376-2.
- Shera, L. M.; Barclay, G.; Bogle, A. H.; Goss, A.; Williams, A. (1927). Official History of the New Zealand Engineers During the Great War 1914–1919. Wanganui, New Zealand: Evans, Cobb & Sharpe. OCLC 20732273.