James
Firstname
Edward
Middle Name
Forrest
Surname
Date of Birth
School Years:
Date of Death:
1931 - 38
Family
Son of J. Forrest of Tattingstone.
School Record
Played in victorious 1937 1st XV and noted for his cricketing prowess. It was stated of him in the 1938 Ipswichian as follows:- "batted with supreme confidence throughout the season and showed mastery of every stroke. His intelligent and good length bowling was as indispensable as his batting. Exceptionally quick in the field and took any catch. Has all the attributes of a first class cricketer"
Branch of Service:
Army Royal Armoured Corps
Service Number:
184473
Rank:
Decorations:
Service Record
Lieutenant
MID (2) and Campaign Medals
Post War Career
He originally enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment whose wartime 7th Battalion was converted to armour as the 142nd Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps. He fought in Tanks in North Africa and Italy.The Regiment was involved in Operation Ochsenkopf and fought at Medjez El Bab in Tunisia. In the Advance to Florence, it took part in breaching the Gothic Line near Rimini on 28th August 1944. He was twice mentioned in despatches. He was hit twice whilst on reconnaissance near Florence on 4th August 1944 and blinded for 3 weeks. He was then evacuated to England.
He emigrated with his wife Anne to South Africa in 1948 where he became a businessman.
Burial Information
Additional Information
He played Cricket for Suffolk and Transvaal.
MID Gazette reference: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36180/supplement/4222.
His son Drew Forrest wrote of his exploits in a Feature entitled "Great teams" in OIJ Issue 3 of 2012 at pages 16 and 17.
Obituary in OIJ Issue 2 of 2010 - 11 at pages 36 - 37.
Archive references WO 166/1428 and WO 175/282.
Other Pictures
