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Remembrance
- The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War Lieutenant Colonel Cusack Grant FORSYTH, DSO Close window to return to main page |
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Select the thumbnail image above for a photo of the 2nd Battalion Officers photographed in October 1914 which opens in a new window.
Lieutenant Colonel Cusack Grant FORSYTH, DSO
2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, attached to 6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment.
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Son of Ellen Sanford Forsyth, of Ashley
House, Lillington Avenue, Leamington Spa, and the late Lt. Col. Frederick
Arthur Forsyth.
Killed 14 September 1916. Aged 29.
Buried BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILE WOOD
The following biographical information is taken from "Officers of the
Green Howards 1688 - 1931" by M L Ferrar;-
Born at Leamington Spa, 4th May, 1887, 5th son of Lieut-Colonel Frederick
Arthur Forsyth, 5th Fusiliers, and Ellen Sanford Forsyth, of Ashley House,
Lillington Avenue, Leamington Spa.
2nd Lieut., 29th August, 1906 ; Lieut, 12th May, 1909; Adjt 12th April, 1912
; Capt. 30th October, 1914.
Went to Belgium in October, 1914, with 2nd Battn., and was wounded in the
fighting at Ypres (twice mentioned in despatches, D.S.O. and Croix de Chevalier
of the Legion of Honour). On return to duty. he took part in the battles of
Festubert and Givenchy. and later was appointed Adjt. and 2nd in command of
the 2nd Battn. Wiltshire Regiment, with Lieut. Colonel Leathem as commanding
officer, and was wounded at Hulloch (Loos) on the 25th September 1915. Later,
he went out to Egypt to command the 6th Service Battn of the regiment.
On returning to France with this battalion he took part in the fighting on
the Somme, and was killed near Thiepval on 14th September, 1916.
"This war has given many opportunities of distinction, and no one has
made more of such opportunities than Cusack Forsyth. In particular his work
and its results as second in command to Colonel Leathern (when attached to
a battalion of another regiment in order to bring it up to the standard of
efficiency from which it had lapsed) show that he had all the qualities necessary
to enable him to do well in the higher commands, which would undoubtedly have
been his had he survived.
He had a keen interest and enjoyment in life and met everything in a cheerful
happy spirit. His memory will go down to future Green Howards as a type of
devotion to duty " (G.H G)
Two of Lieutenant Colonel Forsyth's brothers also lost their lives in the
First World War;-
Lieutenant John Cusack Forsyth. Royal Field Artillery Adjt. 23rd
Bde. Killed 22 September 1914 Aged 31 years old.
Son of the late Colonel F. A. Forsyth, late 5th Fusiliers.
Buried BRAINE COMMUNAL CEMETERY .
and
Lieutenant Samuel Sanford Forsyth. Royal Field Artillery. Died 25
September 1915 Aged 30 years old.
Son of Mrs. Ellen Sanford Forsyth, and the late Col. Frederick Aitken Forsyth.
Commemorated on Panel 5, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.
Another brother, Captain Frederick Richard Gerrard Forsyth of the
Seaforth Highlanders was badly wounded.
(Ref : Ian Shuter of the South
Warwickshire Family History Society)
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