Pte. William R. Forbes 10th Battalion Apr. 9 1917

Pte. William Forbes with 151st Uniform probably 1916.

 William Forbes was born on September 19, 1870 in Dummer Township, Ontario, Canada.  His parents were George Forbes, a farmer, and Jane Darling.  By 1901 he and his wife Queenie had moved to Muskoka & Parry Sound district, where he was listed as a mason. 

By 1916 William, Queenie and their six children were living in Weldale, Alberta.  He was a Section Foreman Railroader.  He enlisted in the  152^nd Battalion on 22^nd February 1916 in Vermillion, Alberta.  He indicated no previous military service.  He was  40 yrs 5 mos., Preysbreterian.  He stood 5’9”, weighed 155lbs.  He had a dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair.

William Forbes arrived embarked for overseas in October of 1916.  He was drafted to the 10^th Battalion sometime.  On April 28, 1917 during the attack and capture of Arleux-en Gohelle, he was

hit and instantly killed by an enemy machine gun bullet.  He was first as reported as Wounded and Missing, then later changed to “Killed in Action”  The Dummer township cenotaph incorrectly records Pte. Forbe's death as April 9th, 1917, the first day of the Vimy Ridge Battle

He appears on the Dummer Township cenotaph as well as the Peterborough Wall of Honour.

Canada: Library and Archives Canada. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Online: <www.collectionscanada.gc.ca>

“Census of Canada, 1891.”

“Census of Canada, 1901.”

“Canada Census of Manitoba & Saskatchewan 1916.”

"Soldiers of the First World War (1914-1918)."

“Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1913”

“CEF Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914-1919.”

Canadian Virtual War Memorial. Online <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial>.

Darling, Gail. “In Search of the Irish Darlings”.  Peterborough 2003: Printer Paul.