Henry Garnet Forrest
Encyclopedia
Captain Henry Garnet Forrest (5 December 1895 – ca. 1950)
was an Australian-born aviator who served in both the Royal Flying Corps
and the Australian Flying Corps. While serving with the latter air service, he was credited with 11 aerial victories.
with the Australian Imperial Force
's 23rd Infantry Battalion
. He sailed from Australia on HMAT Euripides on 10 May 1915. After some time spent in Egypt, the 23rd Battalion shipped out to Gallipoli
, whence it landed on the night of 4–5 September 1915.
After his return from Gallipoli to Egypt, Forrest was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the 46th Battalion on 12 March 1916. He shipped out for service on the Western Front
on 2 June 1916. Forrest led a daring trench raid in the Hollandscheschuur Salient in September 1916; this gained him a mention in despatches and an Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor
.
1917, Forrest transferred to the Australian Flying Corps. On 25 May 1917, he was awarded the Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor. He served successively in 32 Squadron and 43 Squadron of the RFC until he was wounded in action
on 6 August 1917 and removed from combat. In November 1917, he would return to combat as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot in 2 Squadron AFC.
On 22 February 1918, Forrest was promoted to captain.
Forrest began his string of aerial victories on 22 March 1918, when he drove down a German two-seater reconnaissance plane out of control, followed by the destruction of two Albatros D.V
fighters over Bullecourt
. The next day, he set a German recon plane afire northeast of Bapaume
. A week later, he drove down another recon plane over Quesnel
to become an ace.
On 2 April 1918, he and Roby Lewis Manuel
destroyed a German recon plane southeast of Demuin
. On the 12th, he destroyed one singlehanded over Vieille-Chapelle
. On 9 May, he sent down a DFW
recon plane out of control On 1 June 1918, he destroyed a Fokker Triplane
over Chuignes
. The following day, in two morning dogfights, he sent a Pfalz D.III
out of control near Estrées
, and another over Albert. His ending tally amounted to six enemy planes destroyed, including the one shared with Manuel, and five more driven down out of control.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 July 1918. He was also returned to Home Establishment in England during July. His DFC was gazetted on 3 August 1918. Its citation read:
His leadership of patrols has been characterised by great dash and determination whether on high or low work. He has displayed skill in manoeuvring and boldness in attacking superior numbers.
He was admitted to Cobham Hall
on 5 September 1918. He was sent home sick on HT Marathon, departing England on 6 November and arriving back in Melbourne
on New Year's Day 1919.
On 16 March 1920, he was one of the returned military veterans honored by the Order of Druids at a banquet; he was granted a certificate in recognition of his service.
Forrest is noted in newspaper notes of social and sporting events in the Broken Hill area throughout the 1920s–40s; he served as secretary of the local tennis club, for instance.
On 30 December 1947, he is noted as a pallbearer at a friend's funeral. On 31 May 1951, the death of his widow Cora was noted.
was an Australian-born aviator who served in both the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and the Australian Flying Corps. While serving with the latter air service, he was credited with 11 aerial victories.
Early life
Henry Garnet Forrest was born on 5 December 1895 in Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia. His father was Robert Forrest; he signed the enlistment papers granting permission for his son's enlistment. The younger Forrest was working as a cook when he enlisted on 19 February 1915, and swore he was a British subject.Infantry service
Forrest originally served as a Quartermaster SergeantQuartermaster Sergeant
Quartermaster Sergeant is a class of rank or appointment in some armed forces, especially those of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.-Ireland:Quartermaster Sergeant appointments in the Irish Defence Forces include:...
with the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
's 23rd Infantry Battalion
23rd Battalion (Australia)
The 23rd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was raised in 1915 as part of the Australian Imperial Force for service during World War I and formed part of the 6th Brigade, attached to the 2nd Division. It fought during the Gallipoli campaign and on the Western Front...
. He sailed from Australia on HMAT Euripides on 10 May 1915. After some time spent in Egypt, the 23rd Battalion shipped out to Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
, whence it landed on the night of 4–5 September 1915.
After his return from Gallipoli to Egypt, Forrest was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 46th Battalion on 12 March 1916. He shipped out for service on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
on 2 June 1916. Forrest led a daring trench raid in the Hollandscheschuur Salient in September 1916; this gained him a mention in despatches and an Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor
Silver Medal of Military Valor
The Silver Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on May 21, 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal...
.
Aerial service
During Bloody AprilBloody April
During the First World War, the month of April 1917 was known as Bloody April by the Royal Flying Corps . The RFC suffered particularly severe losses — about three times as many as the Imperial German Army Air Service over the same period — but continued its primary role in support of the ground...
1917, Forrest transferred to the Australian Flying Corps. On 25 May 1917, he was awarded the Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor. He served successively in 32 Squadron and 43 Squadron of the RFC until he was wounded in action
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
on 6 August 1917 and removed from combat. In November 1917, he would return to combat as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot in 2 Squadron AFC.
On 22 February 1918, Forrest was promoted to captain.
Forrest began his string of aerial victories on 22 March 1918, when he drove down a German two-seater reconnaissance plane out of control, followed by the destruction of two Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
fighters over Bullecourt
Bullecourt
Bullecourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in France.-Geography:Bullecourt lies on the Upper Cretaceous plain of Artois between Arras and Bapaume and east of the A1 motorway. This shows Bullecourt just north of centre. Quéant is the larger of the two...
. The next day, he set a German recon plane afire northeast of Bapaume
Bapaume
Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is...
. A week later, he drove down another recon plane over Quesnel
Quesnel
-Places:* Quesnel, British Columbia* Quesnel Forks, British Columbia* Quesnell, Alberta-People:* Chantal Quesnel, Canadian actress* François Quesnel, 16th century French artist.* Frédéric-Auguste Quesnel, Canadian lawyer and politician...
to become an ace.
On 2 April 1918, he and Roby Lewis Manuel
Roby Lewis Manuel
Captain Roby Lewis Manuel was an Australian flying ace credited with 12 official aerial victories.-World War I:Manuel enlisted in the 43rd Battalion, AIF on 5 April 1916. He swore that he was a natural born British citizen, that he worked as a farmer, and that his uncle, Frederick George Jones, was...
destroyed a German recon plane southeast of Demuin
Démuin
Démuin is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D23 road, some southeast of Amiens.-Population:-External links:* *...
. On the 12th, he destroyed one singlehanded over Vieille-Chapelle
Vieille-Chapelle
Vieille-Chapelle is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Vieille-Chapelle is situated some northeast of Béthune and west of Lille, at the junction of the D182 and D172 roads...
. On 9 May, he sent down a DFW
DFW
DFW may refer to:*Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport*Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a metropolitan area in north Texas*Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources*Division of Fisheries and Wildlife...
recon plane out of control On 1 June 1918, he destroyed a Fokker Triplane
Fokker Dr.I
The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker was a World War I fighter aircraft built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The Dr.I saw widespread service in the spring of 1918...
over Chuignes
Chuignes
Chuignes is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:chuignes is situated on the D143 and D71 crossroads, near the banks of the river Somme, some east of Amiens.-Population:-External links:*...
. The following day, in two morning dogfights, he sent a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
out of control near Estrées
Estrées
Estrées is an old French family name and the name of two different communes in the north of France. The etymology of the name is from strata, after the stone-layered Roman roads in the area...
, and another over Albert. His ending tally amounted to six enemy planes destroyed, including the one shared with Manuel, and five more driven down out of control.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 2 July 1918. He was also returned to Home Establishment in England during July. His DFC was gazetted on 3 August 1918. Its citation read:
His leadership of patrols has been characterised by great dash and determination whether on high or low work. He has displayed skill in manoeuvring and boldness in attacking superior numbers.
He was admitted to Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall is a country house in Cobham, Kent, England. There has been a manor house on the site since the 12th century. The current building consists of a pair of Tudor wings built for William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham in the 16th century and a later classical central block, and a kitchen court...
on 5 September 1918. He was sent home sick on HT Marathon, departing England on 6 November and arriving back in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on New Year's Day 1919.
Post World War I
Forrest was discharged from the AIF on 23 February 1919.On 16 March 1920, he was one of the returned military veterans honored by the Order of Druids at a banquet; he was granted a certificate in recognition of his service.
Forrest is noted in newspaper notes of social and sporting events in the Broken Hill area throughout the 1920s–40s; he served as secretary of the local tennis club, for instance.
On 30 December 1947, he is noted as a pallbearer at a friend's funeral. On 31 May 1951, the death of his widow Cora was noted.