Private William Forrest
21851 16th Cheshire Regiment
Born Burnley in 1883

William Forrest served overseas in France as a Private in the 16th Bn. Cheshire Regiment during the Great War, he also served in the Labour Corps, service number 372887.

William enlisted on the 10.2.15 and was posted to France on the 30.1.16. On the 19.7.16 he was wounded in action, probably during the Battle of the Somme. He returned to the front line after treatment and continued to serve on the Western Front. On the 22.1.18 he was invalided to the UK on the H.S. St David (Hospital Ship).

He served in the Labour Corps and was at Harbour Hill in Dublin on the 6.6.18.

William was born in Burnley, Lancashire in 1883, the son of David and Isabella Forrest (nee Robinson). In 1891 he was living with his parents at 122 Colne Road, Brierfield, his father died in 1891. In 1901 he was living with his mother and step father John Faulkner at 13 Newcastle Street, Burnley, his step sister Henrietta Faulkner also lived there.

In 1904 he married Dinah Waterworth at St Luke the Evangelist, Brierfield. In 1911 the family were living at Grimethorpe, Yorkshire, where William was working as a Coal Miner Hewer. They had six children, David born 8.4.1905, William born 25.6.1908, Henderson born 1.3.1910, Harold born 14.12.11, Millie born 11.12.14, and Gilbert Edwin born 10.4.16.

William awarded a small pension for 20% disablement due to his war injuries. He died in 1951 aged 68 years.

Partially erased British War Medal on ebay March 2017