James FORREST

Regimental number5816
Place of birthGlasgow, Scotland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationSawyer
Address19 Gipps Street, Balmain, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 6.5"
Weight148 lbs
Next of kinSister, Miss Margaret Forrest C/o Hamilton Esq, 12 Garrioch Crescent, Kelvin Side Glasgow, Scotland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date10 May 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll8 May 1916
Place of enlistmentSydney, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name17th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/34/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7 October 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll17th Battalion
FateEffective abroad (still overseas)
Discharge date2 May 1920
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 7 October 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 21 November 1916; marched in to 5th Training Bn, Rollestone, 7 December 1916.

Found guilty, 15 February 1917, of being absent without leave from midnight, 12 February to 4:00 pm, 14 February 1917: awarded 6 days, confined to Camp and forfeited 8 days' pay.

Found guilty, 20 February 1917, of being absent from Parade at 4:30 pm, 17 February 1917: awarded 7 days' confined to Camp, and forfeited 1 days' pay.

Admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, 23 March 1917 (ear trouble); discharged from hospital and marched in to Training Bn, Rollestone, 31 March 1917.

Admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, 5 April 1917 (eye trouble); discharged from hospital and marched in to Training Bn, Rollestone, 19 April 1917.

Admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, 1 June 1917 (ear trouble); discharged from Hospital and proceeded overseas to France, 30 July 1917.

Marched in to 2nd Australian Division Base Depot, Havre, France, 31 July 1917; taken on strength of 17th Bn, 21 August 1917.

Wounded in action and admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance, 9 October 1917 (gun shot wound to left foot); transferred to 36th Casualty Clearing Station, 9 October 1917; to 8th Australian Stationary Hospital, 10 October 1917; to England, 12 October 1917; admitted to General Hospital, Bethnel Green, England, 13 October 1917; transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 14 November 1917; discharged from hospital and granted leave, 17 November to 1 December 1917.

Reported absent without leave, 1 December 1917; apprehended by Military police, 4 January 1918; absent without leave, 12 February until returning 13 February 1918.

Found guilty, 15 February 1918, of being absent without leave from 6:30 pm, 12 February to 2:30 pm, 13 February 1918: admonished by Commanding Officer and forfeited 2 days' pay.

Marched in to Training Bn, Longbridge Deverill, 26 February 1918; reported absent without leave, 14 March 1918.

Found guilty, 19 March 1918, of being absent without leave from midnight, 14 March until apprehended by Military Police at 12:45 pm, 18 March 1918: awarded 4 days' Field Punishment No 2 and forfeited 8 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 20 March 1918; marched in to Australian Infantry Division Base Depot, Havre, 21 March 1918; marched out to unit, 23 March 1918; rejoined 17th Bn, 25 March 1918.

Wounded in action, 7 April 1918; admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance and taken to 9th General Hospital, 10 April 1918 (gun shot wound to left leg); transferred to England, 11 April 1918; admitted to Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, England, 13 April 1918; transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 29 April 1918; discharged from hospital and granted leave from 6 May to 20 May 1918; marched in to Hurdcott Command Depot, 20 May 1918.

Found guilty, 25 June 1918, of making a false declaration: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Marched in to overseas Training Bn, Longbridge Deverill, 12 July 1918; absent without leave, 25 July until returning 28 July 1918; proceeded overseas to France, 3 August 1918; marched in to Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, France, 5 August 1918; marched out to unit, 7 August 1918; rejoined unit, 10 August 1918.

Found guilty, 29 July 1918, of being absent without leave from midnight, 25 July 1918 until apprehended by Military police at 6:15, 28 July 1918: awarded 3 days' Field Punishment No 2 and forfeited 6 days' pay.

Wounded in action and admitted to 37th Casualty Clearing Station, 31 August 1918 (gun shot wound to right hand); transferred to 9th General Hospital, Rouen, 1 September 1918; to England, 8 September 1918; admitted to 21st General Hospital, Birmingham, England, 9 September 1918; transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 21 November 1918; discharged from hospital and granted leave, 27 November to 11 December 1918.

Found guilty, 2 November 1918, of 'Overstaying hours on pass' from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, 1 November 1918 (2.5 hours): awarded forfeiture of 14 days' pay.

Marched in to Weymouth Command Depot, 16 December 1918; granted leave, 12 April to 26 April 1919; to 17th Bn on cancellation of Non-Military Employment, 24 September 1919; marched in to Sutton Veny Command Depot, 25 September 1919; marched out to Australian Headquarters, London, 10 October 1919; 'proceeded on indefinite leave awaiting family ship', 15 October 1919.

Supposed to commence return to Australia on board HT 'Konigan Luise', 18 December 1919, but 'did not embark'; discharged in England, 2 May 1920.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, FORREST James