Sidney James Forfar

Rank 
Private
Regiment 
Honourable Artillery Company
Date of death 
16 October 1917
Age of death 
36
Address 
13 Hiilcrest Road
South Woodford
Woodford
Essex
E18 2JL
Address source 
1917 Probate
Cemetery / Memorial 
France
Biography 

Born in 1881 at Silvertown, son of Robert (Finance Clerk to a Soap Manufacturer) and Eliza Forfar. 1901: A Clerk at the Soap Factory, living with his family at Knights Road, West Ham. 1911: A Bank Clerk with the National Provincial & Union Bank of England, living with his family at 16 New Fillebrook Road, Leytonstone.

In 1912 he married Lauretta Hill at St Andrew’s Church Plaistow, and they had two children. Their homes were at 3 Barfeld Villas, George Lane, South Woodford, and “The Burr” 17 Hillcrest Road, South Woodford.

He attested on 10th December 1915, was mobilised on 25th April 1917, and arrived at Le Havre on 18th July 1917. The attack on Reutel began at 05.30 on 09th October 1917, intending to straighten out the salient and capture Judge Copse, Judge Cottage and Reutel Village - the latter being the task of 2 HAC. Movement was difficult because the area was described as a vast sea of mud, and within minutes German artillery was taking a heavy toll among the attackers, supplemented by machine gun fire from Judge Copse.  During the engagement Sidney Forfar sustained shrapnel wounds to his head and face from which he died, probably at 41 Casualty Clearing Station, on 16th October 1917.

He is also remembered on:- The Private Banks Cricket and Athletic Club War Memorial at Catford. (His connection is probably through his bank, as financial institutions owned and used the ground); The Union of London & Smith’s Bank War memorial at Natwest, 1 Princes Street London EC3P 3AG.

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Regimental History

Lewisham Local History & Archives Centre