Able Seaman 182501 George Henry Forrest


Killed in Action on Monday, 5th June 1916, age 37.
Commemorated on Panel 12 of Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, United Kingdom.

Royal Navy, H.M.S. "Hampshire.".

Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Forrest, of Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.; husband of Elizabeth Forrest, of 22, Oakeywell St., Dudley.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Unknown, Resident: Dudley.

Pre-war naval man.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Navy Papers transcribed.

Commemorated on the Dudley Clock Tower Memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on Commonwealth War Graves site.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2876813/


Genealogical Data

Birth of George Forrest registered December quarter 1878 in Dudley. According to Naval records, George was born on 17th November 1878.

1881 Census
1 Court, 133 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Joseph Forrest (30, Puddler, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (29, born West Bromwich), and their 4 children: Martha A. (9, Scholar, born Tividale), Joseph (7, Scholar, born Tipton), Alfred (4, born Tipton), George H. (2, born Tipton).

1891 Census
1 House 6 Court, 131 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Joseph Forrest (40, Iron Worker, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (39, born West Bromwich), and their 8 children: Martha A. (19, born Rowley), Joseph (17, Iron Worker, born Tipton), Alfred (14, Iron Worker, born Tipton), George H. (12, born Tipton), Asrealha (7, born Tipton), William C. (4, born Tipton), and Frederick J. (6 months, born Tipton).

1901 Census
2 Back 91 Lidsam Street, Ladywood, Birmingham.
Householder Edward Jones (32) with wife Martha (29, born Tipton) - nee Forrest.
Joseph Forrest (27, Boarder, Labourer, born Tipton), George Forrest (22, Visitor, Sailor, Seaman RN, born Tipton).

Marriage of George Forest and Elizabeth Ellen Fleming registered December quarter 1904 in Dudley.

1911 Census
22 Oakeywell Street, Dudley, Worcs.
George Forrest (32, Sailor on Duke of Edinburgh, born Dudley Port), his wife Elizabeth Ellen (31, born Dudley), and their only child: George (1, born Portsmouth).


Personal Data

None Available.


Action resulting in his death

H.M.S. Hampshire was carrying Lord Kitchener from Scapa Flow on a diplomatic mission to Russia, she departed on 5th May 1916 at about 16.45 into a force 8 gale. At about 19.40, 1.5 miles off Marwick Head, she hit a mine which blew a hole between the bows and midships and sank within 15 minutes. The mine was believed to have been laid by U-boat U.75 just before the Battle of Jutland.

The storm conditions smashed many of the lifeboats as they were being lowered, increasing the death toll. Of the crew of over 600, only 12 men survived. Lord Kitchener and his staff were all lost at sea.

Two Tipton men, Able Seaman George Forrest and Mechanician Joseph Evans were both lost, and both are commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.


Newspaper Cuttings

None.