North Irish Horse - Gallery - In memoriam

In memoriam

Private John Forbes

John Forbes was born on 4 May 1895 at Dungall, Kirkinriola, Ballymena, County Antrim, the third of six children of farmer George Forbes and his wife Elizabeth (nee Knox). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Moneydollog, Ballyconnelly, County Antrim, with his parents and four surviving siblings, and working as a clerk in the linen business.

Forbes enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 19 November 1915 (No.1924). His brother George Forbes had joined the regiment just days earlier. He was sent to France as a reinforcement on 27 July 1916 and was posted to D Squadron of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. On 20 September 1917 Forbes was transferred to the 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (No.41453). He was posted to C Company.

Private Forbes was killed in action on the second day of the battle of St Quentin, 22 March 1918. The Ballymena Observer later reported that:

Mr. George Forbes, Moneydollog, Ahoghill, has received official intimation that his son, Pte. John Forbes, Royal Irish Fusiliers (formerly of the North Irish Horse) was killed in action on the second day of the battle at St Quentin, while attempting to rescue a wounded comrade from German hands. Prior to enlisting in November 1915, the deceased was a clerk with Messrs. Frazer and Haughton, Cullybackey and was an Associate of the Institute of Commerce, Birmingham.

Having no known grave, Private Forbes is commemorated at Pozieres Memorial, panel 77. It is possible that his body is one of two unidentified North Irish Horsemen who lie in the Grand Seraucourt British Cemetery.