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Sgt. Samuel Forsyth VC.
New Zealand Expeditionary Force No.3 Field Company New Zealand Engineers
from:New Zealand
(d.24th Aug 1918)
Samuel Forsyth was killed on 24th of August 1918 by a sniper and is buried in the Adanac Military Cemetery in Somme, France.
An extract from the London Gazette No. 30967 dated 18th Oct. 1918, records the following: "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On meeting the objective, his company came under heavy machine-gun fire. Through Sgt. Forsyth's dashing leadership and total disregard of danger, three machine-gun positions were rushed and the crews taken prisoner before they could inflict many casualties on our troops. During subsequent advance his company came under heavy fire from several machine-guns, two of which he located by a daring reconnaissance. In his endeavour to gain support from a Tank, he was wounded, but after having the wound bandaged, he again got in touch with the Tank, which in the face of very heavy fire from machine-guns and anti-Tank guns, he endeavoured to lead with magnificent coolness to a favourable position. The Tank, however, was put out of action. Sgt. Forsyth then organised the Tank crew and several of his men into a section, and led them to a position where the machine-gun could be outflanked. Always under heavy fire, he directed them into positions which brought about a retirement of the enemy machine-guns and enabled the advance to continue. This gallant N.C.O. was at that moment killed by a sniper. From the commencement of the attack until the time of his death Sgt. Forsyth's courage and coolness, combined with great power of initiative, proved an invaluable incentive to all who were with him and he undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades."
