Gerald Sidney Forward
Surname: Forward
Other names: Gerald Sidney
Locations in this story: Zeals, WiltshireFarnham, SurreySt Mary's Church, East Knoyle, Wiltshire White Cross, Zeals, WiltshireColchester Military Hospital , EssexAldershot, HampshireShaftesbury, DorsetEast Knoyle, Wiltshire
Story: Gerald Sidney Forward was born in Zeals, Wiltshire, on 18th July, 1889, and baptised at St. Martin's Church, Zeals, on 29th August 1889. He was the son of Sidney Forward, a carpenter, and Lucy Forward (nee Matthews). Lucy died in the same period as Gerald's birth possibly due to complications and by 1911 his father had remarried and moved to Aldershot, Hampshire. At the time of the 1911 Census, Gerald was living at White Cross, Zeals, Wiltshire. His father, Sidney, died in 1914 in the Farnham, Surrey area.
On 30th July, 1916 Gerald married Bertha Mallett at St. Mary's Church, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the Suffolk Regiment (Service No. 5710). He later transferred to the 52nd Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (New Service No. 4/64728). He died from pneumonia at Colchester Military Hospital, Essex, on 10th November 1918 and was buried in the cemetery extension at St Mary's Church, East Knoyle, Wiltshire (grave id. 240). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. There is no record of his wife receiving a dependent's pension in this case. A search of the Medal Index has failed to find if any medals were issued in his name though he would have qualified for at least the British War Medal.
On 30th July, 1916 Gerald married Bertha Mallett at St. Mary's Church, East Knoyle, Wiltshire. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private and joined the Suffolk Regiment (Service No. 5710). He later transferred to the 52nd Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (New Service No. 4/64728). He died from pneumonia at Colchester Military Hospital, Essex, on 10th November 1918 and was buried in the cemetery extension at St Mary's Church, East Knoyle, Wiltshire (grave id. 240). He is remembered on the East Knoyle War Memorial. There is no record of his wife receiving a dependent's pension in this case. A search of the Medal Index has failed to find if any medals were issued in his name though he would have qualified for at least the British War Medal.
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