ERNEST FORSTER 

C.W.G.C. remember an E. Forster Pte. Reg. No. 72895, 119th Coy., Machine Gun Corps. (Infantry), Died 25-11-17 F&F. Cemetery; Metz–en–Couture Communal Cemetery British Extension lV.A.7. France.

N.A.M.C. have a medal card for Ernest Forster, Royal Welsh Fusiliers Regiment No 29126, also Machine Gun Corps Regiment No 72895, awarded the British War and Victory medals, D.o.E. (Date of Entry) and T.o.W. (Theatre of War) had not been addressed.

Ernest Forster's Birth Certificate confirms he was born on the 28th March 1895 in Crowton, not Acton Bridge. His father, John Forster's occupation is recorded as a “Carter”. Mother, Martha Forster was formerly a Towers. Ernest seems to have preferred to state Acton Bridge as his place of birth. Ernest is not recorded on the Crowton Memorial.

Cheshire BMD records John and Martha, Dad and Mum marrying at Leighton cum Minshull Vernon, St. Peter in the years 1891/95. Free BMD records the marriage at Nantwich in March 1893.

The 1901 census records father Jno (30) head of the family and with his occupation as farmer, married to Martha (27) living at 3 Edward St. Witton, Northwich, with Thomas (7) Ernest (6) born Acton Bridge, Annie (4) Agnes (2) and Jno D. (1/12).

The 1911 census shows a huge change for the family. Ernest is living in Fleetwood, Lancashire. His mother has remarried to a James Twitchings (1908) and they are living at 34 Warrenhurst Road. Annie is missing but the other brothers and sisters are with him and there is a young Martha Forster (4) born in Fleetwood. Ernest is now 16 and has an occupation as an App. (Apprentice) Wood Worker at the Saw Mill. The 1911 census also records Ernest as being born in Acton. John Forster, father, his death is recorded on FreeBMD in March 1907 in the Fylde aged 36. Lancashire BMD records John's death at Fleetwood.

 

Ernest died of his wounds (D.O.W.) but as he is buried in France this is likely to have been shortly after receiving his injuries, as he would likely have been shipped home quite quickly if at all possible. Eric Curbishley, a contact, did think that Ernest Forster was listed on the Dukinfield Memorial. The local reference library is the Ashon-Under-Lyne Records Office. The papers for the Dukinfield area at that time were the Ashton Under Lyne Reporter and the Hyde Reporter. Checking the papers before his death for injured soldiers as well as after his death have unfortunately failed to find any information on Ernest between Oct. 1917 to March 1918.

There are ten memorials in Dukinfield and Ernest is listed on the Crescent Road Memorial. A booklet has been produced on Dukinfield and includes details of the Crescent Road Memorial including an Ernest Forster. The booklet was completed 20 years ago, includes Ernest's Regimental details and that he was born in Acton Bridge. No further information was available in the booklet. The author, Mike Pavasovic was unavailable to ask how they had confirmed that Ernest Forster was who he appears to be, feedback from Mr. Pavasovic via a second person was that the detail of each lad was completed by another person and he is not with us any more, so is unable to say how that detail was confirmed.

Research Bob Heaton