Francis Edmond Forth

Francis Edmond Forth

Francis Edmond Forth was born May 23, 1892, in Bracebridge, Ontario. He was known to the family as Frank. Frank's middle name has been spelled both Edmund and Edmond on various documents. In the family bible and on his birth registration, he was listed as Edmund; on his death notice, he was listed as Edmond. Army records used Edmond.  

The midwife for Frank's birth was recorded as Mrs. David Scott. She was his great grandmother, Sarah Eliza Casselman Ouderkirk Scott.

I know very little about the early life of Frank.
​He was recorded on the 1911 Census as a labourer living with his family in Utterson. Sometime after the 1911 Census, he relocated to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan where he joined the Moose Jaw Fire Department. Frank is at the right in the back row.
Frank was the first in his family to enlist in the Canadian Infantry as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on September 21, 1915 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, at the age of 23. According to his Attestation Paper, he was 5 foot 10½ inches tall, had blue eyes, light brown hair and a light complexion. As part of the 46th battalion of the C.E.F., Frank embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 21, 1915 and disembarked in Devonport, UK on October 30, 1915. He was sent to France as part of the 16th battalion on June 17, 1916, arriving on June 20th. Frank saw active duty in the trenches of France for just over a year. 

Having survived the battle of Vimy Ridge in April, Frank advanced with the 16th Battalion on July 14, 1917 towards Hill 70 which would be known as the Second Battle of Passchendaele. The following is taken from the text of The History of the 16th Battalion (the Canadian Scottish) Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1919 by Hugh McIntyre Urquhart, page 230:

“On July 14th the 16th Battalion began its journey from Vimy Ridge to the battle area. By short stages it  moved back round the rear of Bouvingy heights on to the plainsnorth of it, and eastwards over them until it reached Mazingarbe, a town at the edge of the old Loos battlefield on the Lens-Bethune national highway, situated directly behind the Hill 70 front.  
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"The usual thorough preparations had been made to ensure that the attacking troops knew the ground over which they were to operate. A large clay model to scale, indicating all the surface features of the battlefield, was on view; a taped course corresponding in size to the battlefield was set out on the westerly slopes of the Bully Grenay-Aix Noulette ridge, a location not far from Mazingarbe. On the latter, shortly after arrival, the Battalion settled down to battle practice.”
Frank died of wounds received in action July 24, 1917, and is buried in Plot 2, C14 of the Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery in Mazingarbe, France. Mazingarbe is a small town located between Bethune and Lens in the Pas-de-Calais region of France.
"The MAZINGARBE COMMUNAL CEMETERY was used by units and field ambulances from June 1915 to February 1916. It contains 108 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 24 French war graves. The adjoining COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION was begun by the 16th (Irish) Division in April 1916 and was used until October 1918. It contains 248 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and two German graves. The extension was designed by Sir Herbert Baker."

​My grandmother, Edna Prosser, and great aunt, Viola Forth, told the story of how Frank’s death impacted his girlfriend at the time. Her name was Daisy Sorrell and she had a full head of very dark hair. As the story goes, Daisy awoke the morning after hearing that Frank had died overseas, looked in a mirror, and discovered that her hair had turned white overnight. I have no idea how accurate this accounting was, but I am sure Daisy felt her life would never be the same.


As the average age of Canadian casualties in WWI was 27 (from the Canadian Great War Project), there were many young women like Daisy who faced the loss of a loved one.

My cousin, Melody, is in possession of Frank’s identification tag and two medals that he received for his efforts in WWI. She sent me this photo.

According to the WWI CEF Personnel Files, Frank ‘s family received the two medals shown above as well as a plaque and scroll. The plaque and scroll may have been lost to time or may be in the possession of another family member. Frank was not entitled to the 1914-15 Star. I presume this was because it was not authorized for use until 1918, after Frank’s death. 

Frank’s mother received the Memorial Cross, which is more commonly referred to as the Silver Cross. The Silver Cross was and still is awarded to mothers and widows of Canadian soldiers who died while on active duty. 

 

“The National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother is chosen annually by the Royal Canadian Legion to represent the mothers of Canada at the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa on November 11. She will lay a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who lost children in the military service to their nation. During her year-long tenure, which begins on November 1st, she performs other official duties, as required.” ( http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/books/silver )

 

This beautiful cross was handed down to me by my father at the request of my grandmother, Edna Forth Prosser, and my great aunt, Viola Forth. It was given to my daughter on her 40th birthday, and I hope it will be passed along to a grandchild when the time is right. 

​Lucy Ellen Forth had, by the end of 1917, sent six of her sons off to war. All but one returned. Although the family couldn’t bury Frank, they did send out cards to memorialize his death in the line of duty. His death was also recorded in the Huntsville Forester. What is particularly interesting about this memorial card to me is that it is one of the few written examples of the name Henry Ernest Forth that I have found. The family always referred to Harry with the middle name Ernest, but it is recorded in few places.

To me, it is sad that most of the information I have found about the life of Francis Edmond Forth is actually information about his death! What I do know is that he loved and he was loved. Maybe that makes him luckier than many. Every year, I wore his mother's Silver Cross on Remembrance Day, and I remembered someone I never actually knew who gave the ultimate sacrifice - for me and for so many others.

Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France

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