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Cenotaph record

Hugh Alexander Forrest

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Portrait of H. A. Forrest. Auckland Grammar School chronicle. 1917, v.5, n.2. Image has no known copyright restrictions.

Portrait of H. A. Forrest. Auckland Grammar School chronicle. 1917, v.5, n.2. Image has no known cop …

No Known Copyright Restrictions AWMM

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Hugh Alexander AWMM
  • Surname
    Forrest AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWI 30104 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Church of England, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    30 May 1893 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW1 William Forrest (father), 31 Old Lake Road, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    1917 Passchendaele AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 30104 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Forrest, of Rotorua, New Zealand.

    Member of the College Rifles Rugby Football Club

    Attended Auckland Grammar School.

    Attended Auckland University College (now the University of Auckland).

    "Lieutenant Hugh Alexander Forrest: A determined and courageous leader.

    Born in 1893 in Wellington but moving to Auckland at an early age due to his father’s career as a postmaster, Hugh Forrest (known as Alex) showed an early desire for military service. He undertook territorial service with the Junior Cadets from the age of 14, before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and placed in charge of the 54th Company (North Auckland) Senior Cadets in 1912.

    “He had always taken a keen interest in military matters, and was in the College Rifles till he transferred to the Takapuna Senior Cadets as Lieutenant – in-Charge”

    -Obituary for H. A. Forrest. Auckland Grammar School chronicle. 1917, v.5, n.2. p.16.

    In 1915, he moved to the 18th Company (Auckland) Senior Cadets based in the suburb of Ponsonby, closer to his family home and his university classes. Upon completing a law degree in May 1916, Forrest left a promising career as a solicitor in July to enlist with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

    Following promotion to lieutenant in charge of J Company 22nd Reinforcements, he embarked on the SS Navua at Wellington on the 15th of February, 1917 arriving in England on 26th April. In June he was appointed a platoon commander within ‘B’ Company, 2nd Battalion the 3rd New Zealand Rifles Brigade on the front line in France.

    Lieutenant Forrest was killed, aged 24, during the attack on Bellevue Spur. His body was recovered, and later buried in the New Irish Farm Cemetery, in Ypres.

    Forest is mentioned on many memorials throughout Devonport, as well as the College Rifles Rugby Club, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum World War One Hall of Memories." Excerpt from Coombe, Sophie. 'Faces of Passchendaele', Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Published: 12/10/2018.

    Next of Kin: Mr W. Forrest, Rotorua (Roll of Honour, Auckland Province 1914-1918 (Volume 1)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    12 October 1917 AWMM
    Ypres, Belgium AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    New Irish Farm Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium AWMM VI. B. 4. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Obituary: Auckland Grammar School Chronicle. 1917. AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Roll of Honour, College Rifles, Rugby Union Football & Sports Club, 33 Haast Street, Remuera, Auckland AWMM
    • Devonport War Memorial, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
    • Roll of Honour, Devonport Primary School, granite tablet, 18 Kerr Street, Devonport, Auckland AWMM
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Hall of Memories AWMM
    • College Rifles Park, 33 Haast Street, Remuera, Auckland AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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