Samuel Forsyth
Sergeant, News Zealand Engineers attchd to 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment. NZEF
- Register No.
- 420 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- News Zealand Engineers attchd to 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment. NZEF (register: New Zealand Engineers) all New Zealand Engineers VCs →
- Date of action
- 24 August 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 22nd October, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 3rd April 1891 at Wellington, New Zealand
- Died
- 24th August, 1918 at Grevillers, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Adanac Military Cemetery, France, and the Headquarters, Dunedin RSA, New Zealand
Digest of citation
On 24th August, 1918 at Grevillers, France, when Sergeant Forsyth's company was under heavy machine-gun fire on nearing their objective, he led attacks on three machine-gun positions and took the crews prisoner before they could inflict many casualties on our troops. Subsequently, in endeavouring to gain support from a tank to deal with several machine guns, he was wounded and the tank put out of action. He then led the tank crew and several of his own men in an attack which brought about the retirement of the enemy machine guns and enabled the advance to continue. At this moment he was killed by a sniper
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
FORSYTH, Samuel. (reg No. 420).
Sergeant. News Zealand Engineers attchd to 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment. NZEF.
London Gazetted on 22nd October, 1918.
Born on 3rd April 1891 at Wellington, New Zealand.
Died on 24th August, 1918 at Grevillers, France.
Memorials at Adanac Military Cemetery, France, and the Headquarters, Dunedin RSA, New Zealand.
Digest of Citation reads: On 24th August, 1918 at Grevillers, France, when Sergeant Forsyth's company was under heavy machine-gun fire on nearing their objective, he led attacks on three machine-gun positions and took the crews prisoner before they could inflict many casualties on our troops. Subsequently, in endeavouring to gain support from a tank to deal with several machine guns, he was wounded and the tank put out of action. He then led the tank crew and several of his own men in an attack which brought about the retirement of the enemy machine guns and enabled the advance to continue. At this moment he was killed by a sniper.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Adanac Military Cemetery, France, and the Headquarters, Dunedin RSA, New Zealand
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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