Service: Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery
Date and place of birth: 3rd qtr 1897, in Hampstead, London
Date and place of death: 12 April 1918 (aged 20), in France
Family background
John Forshall was born in 1897. He was the eldest son of Francis Hyde-Forshall and Isabella Forshall, nee Scrimgeour, who married in January 1897. Isabella was a daughter of Alexander Scrimgeour (1835–1882), a wealthy stockbroker.
In 1901 he was three years old and living at Wispers House, Stedham, Sussex, in a household headed by his aunt, Maud Scrimgeour, a sister of his mother. The household census listed: Maud Scrimgeour (32), Isabella Forshall (30), both women were of ‘independent means’, John Forshall (3), nephew, Edith Forshall (1), niece, Isabella Forshall (6 months), niece, Eliza Smithers (16), parlour maid, Ada Brookman (25), nurse governess, Hettie Lewis (22), cook, Rose Lewis (21) nurse (domestic) and Sarah Dewton (16), nursery maid.
There is no found record for Francis Forshall.
In 1911 Francis Forshall (42), ‘of private means’, and his wife with their children: Judith (11), Isabella (10), Peter (5) and Samuel (2), were living in Tentworth, Stedham. With them were: Annie Newland (42), visitor, Ellen Brown (44), cook, Florence Brown (14), visitor, Lois West (32), parlour maid, Mary Tombs (36), nurse, Elizabeth Jackson (25), laundry maid and Maggie Grover (17), housemaid.
John Forshall was listed as a pupil at Highfield School, Liphook, Hampshire. He was 13 years of age.
Military service
John Forshall was a Lieutenant in 123rd Brigade of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery.
John Forshall was awarded the Victory and British War medals. On Medal and Awards Roll his regiment is given as Royal Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery) Sub unit Royal Field Artillery.
Death and commemoration
John Forshall was killed in action in France. He is buried in Couin New British Cemetery, grave ref A27.
Probate was granted to Francis Scrimgeour Hyde Forshall, father, Captain Territorial Reserve Force.
He is commemorated on the Stedham War Memorial, and in the Royal Artillery Commemoration Book, 1914-1918.
Subsequent family history
Francis Scrimgeour Hyde-Forshall died 28 November 1944, in Midhurst district. Probate was granted 31 May 1945 to Isabella Forshall, widow, of Tentworth, Iping, Sussex
Isabella Forshall died 15 July 1954, in Midhurst district. Probate was granted to Peter Hyde-Forshall, stockbroker, and Samuel Forshall, solicitor.
Maud Scrimgeour died 4 July 1938, in Midhurst district.
Samuel Forshall died 1968 in Repton district, Derbyshire.
Judith Forshall died in 1977, in Chichester district.
Peter Forshall died in 1980, in Chichester district.
Isabella Forshall died in 1989, in Chichester district. (see biography on Wikipedia)