FORSYTH, Samuel Francis
4/400, Sergeant, NZ Engineers (att 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment)






Gazetted 22 Oct 1918, p12487






For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On nearing the objective his company came under heavy machine-gun fire. Through






Sergeant 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. Sergeant Forsyth then organized the tank crew and several of his men into a section, and






led them to a position where the machine guns 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 non-commissioned officer was at that moment killed by a sniper.






From the commencement of the attack until the time of his death Sergeant Forsyth's courage and coolness, combined with great power of initiative,






proved an invaluable incentive to all those who were with him, and he undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades.
AWARDS
Victoria Cross
British War Medal
Victory Medal
NOTES
Born 3 April 1891, Wellington, NZ
Killed in action at Grevillers, France, on 24 August 1918
Buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, France

