FORBES, Cyril

Cyril Charles Albert Forbes was the son of James Forbes and his wife Mildred, nee McLean.  He was born in Brunswick in 1898.  He enlisted on 10 June 1915.  He named his sister, Gladys Forbes of 116 Vale Street, East Melbourne, as his next of kin.  As his guardian she signed a note of consent to his going to war, although he had added a year to his age and was only 17.  He gave his occupation as farm hand and stated that he had had twelve months military experience with the Senior Cadets in Sale.  He was 5ft 4ins and 7 stone 3 lbs.  He had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.  He was assigned to the 22nd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements and sent to Seymour for training.  He embarked on 26 August 1916 aboard HMAT Anchises.  His embarkment details show that he had been living with his sister in East Melbourne, but his next of kin had changed to C/o John Beer, 49 Victoria Street, Brunswick. He was taken on strength on 11 November 1915 at Anzac.  Back in Egypt after the evacuation he left for France on 19 March 1916. The War Memorial states that the soldiers of the 22nd Battalion experienced their first service on the Western Front in reserve breastwork trenches near Fleurbaix at the end of the first week of April 1916. The battalion’s first major action was at Pozières, part of the massive British offensive on the Somme. In September/October they were moved to the Ypres sector then back to the Somme for the winter. But that was the end of the war for Cyril. He was in hospital in December 1916 suffering from an old injury to his ankle.  On 2 January 1917 he was admitted to hospital in England where he remained until 5 February.  Afterwards he was in convalescent depots until sent back to Australia on 4 May 1917 because of flat feet and was discharged 25 August 1917.  He married Blanche Rose (or Rose Blanche Bricknell). He died 3 May 1962 at West Preston.  His occupation was at the time given as clerk.