Finnley Forsyth 542403

Finnely* James Forsythe was born on October 8^th, 1885 in Warsaw, Ontario. He was the son of Benjamin James and Margaret Ann Forsyth.

Finnely was living at 211 Hunter Street, Peterborough, when he enlisted there in the Cyclist platoon on April 5^th 1917.  He was 31 and a half years old, stood 5 feet, 6 and ½ inches tall and weighed 132 pounds.  He had a dark complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair.   He stated his occupation as a mechanic, and declared that he had no previous military experience.  He is recorded as being a, married man upon enlistment; it is likely that his wife died very close to this date, leaving Finnely with his 6-month old daughter, Lena, to raise alone.  Finnely diverted $15 a month (more than half his wage to his mother in Warsaw as she cared for his daughter while he was enlisted.

Finnely spent more than five months training with the Cyclist Platoon at Barriefield Camp, near Kingston before being transferred to the 1^st Eastern Ontario Regiment Depot Battalion.  The reason for the transfer is unclear but it probably centered on the fact that there wasn’t a large demand for cyclist troops.  There are also many references in his military files for him having been attached to the 247^th Peterborough Battalion during this time, but when exactly is not entirely certain.

Forsyth arrived in England on December 07, 1917 aboard the S.S. Megantic, and as he was immediately transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford on December 7^th 1917.  He remained in Seaford camp training until April 17^th 1918, when he was posted to 21^st Battalion.  He left for France and was taken on strength with the 21^st Battalion a day later.

He was immediately sent to the Canadian Signal Corps for training and instruction from April 22 –May 15 1918. He returned to the 21^st a month later and joined them at the front.  He remained with his unit until he was wounded at Arras on August 28^th, having been shot through the chest.  He was evacuated by the #4 Canadian Field Ambulance and taken to No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station where it was noted that he suffered a clean wound and that the bullet had not damaged his lung.    When stabilized he was sent to 3^rd Australian General Hospital on August 31, before being evacuated a week later to Cambridge Hospital in Aldershot, England on September 8^th 1918.  Finnely spent the next three months in British hospitals, recovering from his wound, often suffering from pain and tightness in his chest, as well as complaining of rheumatism in his ankles and knees.  He was released, on November 18^th, to the Canadian Convalescent Depot in England and later joined the Canadian Contingent at Kimmel Park, Wales to await his return to Canada.  

Finnely left for England for home on January 18, 1919 and arrived in Canada a week later. He was discharged in Kingston on February 18^th in good health.  He married Mabel Tighe of Dummer Township in 1922. Finnely Forsythe died in 1968, and is buried in Paris Cemetery, in Paris, Ontario.

*Finnely’s name is spelled in many variations: including Findlay on his birth register.

 Sources

Archives of Ontario. Registration of Births and Stillbirths, 1858-1913. MS 929, reel 72. Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. P.66.

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1891. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2009. Census Place: Douro, Peterborough East, Ontario; Roll: T-6363; Family No: 4. P.2

LAC. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: 2007. Census Place: 15 - Douro, Peterborough East, Ontario; Page: 7; Family No: 61. P.7.

Archives of Ontario Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928;  Series: MS932; Reel: 622  P.192.

LAC. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: 1901; Census Place: Sidney, Hastings (west/ouest), Ontario; Page: 4; Family No: 50. Page:165.

Library & Archives Canada The Military Service File of Finnely Forsyths.  Ottawa, Ontario. RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4930-35. NO.377062.

LAC. Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives   Canada, 2013. Series RG31. Statistics  Canada Fonds.  Reference Number: RG 31;   Folder Number: 82; Census Place: Peterboro (City), Peterborough West, Ontario; Page Number: 12