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| Page revised: 3 October, 2006 |
Sergeant Samuel FORSYTH VC |
| Born: | Wellington, New Zealand - 3 April 1891 | 
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| Died: | Grévillers, France - 24 August 1918 | ||
| Burial details: | Plot I, Row 1, Grave 39, Adanac Military Cemetery, France | ||
| Corps service: | He enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in August 1914 and by the time the Force embarked for Egypt he was an engineer. He served in Gallipoli (May-July and Aug-Nov 1915). In April he joined 3 New Zealand Field Company in France and saw action at the Somme, Messines and Thrid Ypres. | ||
| VC awarded: | Won VC at Grévillers, France, on 24 August 1918. (First World War 1914-18) | ||
| VC unit: | New Zealand Engineers attached to 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment. | ||
| VC presented: | VC presented by King George V to next-of-kin at Buckingham Palace on 23 November 1918. | ||
| VC citation: | For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in
attack. On nearing the objective, his company came under heavy machine-gun
fire. Through Sergeant Foryth's dashing leadership and total disregard
of danger, three machine-gun positions were rushed, and the crews
taken prisoner before they could inflict many casualties on our troops. During the subsequent advance his company came under heavy fire from several machine-guns, two of which he located by a daring reconnaissance. In his endeavour to gain support from a Tank, he was wounded, but after having the wound bandaged, he again got in touch with the Tank, which, in the face of very heavy f re from machine-guns and anti-Tank guns, he endeavoured to lead with magnificent coolness, to a favourable position. The Tank, however, was put out of action. Sergeant Forsyth then organised the Tank crew and several of his men into a section, and led them to a position where the machine-guns could be outflanked. Always under heavy fire, he directed them into positions which brought about a retirement of the enemy machine-guns and enabled the advance to continue. This gallant NCO was at this moment killed by a sniper. From the commencement of the attack until the time of his death Sergeant Forsyth's courage and coolness, combined with great power of initiative, proved an invaluable incentive to all who were with him, and he undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades. (London Gazette: 22 October 1918) |
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| VC location: | Privately held | ||
| Source:
Additional material: SC Fenwick, FoREM Links to further reading:
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Royal Engineers Museum main site
