Hiram Gregg Forsyth / Forsythe

Died of Wounds on the 22/08/1915 sustained at Gallipoli

On the 07/07/1915 Hiram and the Battalion embarked from Devonport on H.M.T. "CANADA" and sailed to Gallipoli via Mudros and landed at "C" Beach, Suvla Bay on the 07/08/1915. Just 15 days later Hiram Died of his Wounds. In October 1915 the Battalion moved via Mudros to Salonika. They were part of the 31st Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division. The attack at Chocolate Hill, Gallipoli on the 7th and 8th August 1915 - The first advance and attack made by 31st Brigade included the 6th Royal Inniskillings, the 5th and the 6th Royal Irish Fusiliers and two companies of the 7th Royal Dublin Fusiliers. The advance took place during early afternoon, the hottest part of the day; the troops struggled through soft mud around the edge of Salt Lake and then across the scrub-covered ground. They were shelled by the Turks as soon as they appeared on the beach and were harassed all the way to their objective - Green Hill and Chocolate Hill, which the enemy were using as artillery observation By 1700 hours they arrived some 300 yards short of the objective where they rested and made final preparations while supporting artillery shelled the Turkish positions. At 1900 hours, when it was almost dark, the men of 31st Brigade, despite their thirst and fatigue, rose and charged up the slopes with bayonets fixed and were on the crest of Chocolate Hill by 2000 hours. Throughout the night, the troops worked at the defences of the hill in preparation for the Turkish counterattacks, while others brought forward food and water. SEE PHOTOS x 25 FOR THE 31st BRIGADE WAR DIARY FROM THE 10th JULY - 31st AUGUST 1915. The 31st Brigade War Diary states - "17th August : Units of the 54th Division took over positions of the line. The 31st Infantry Brigade. was placed in Reserve at KAROKOL DAGH - the strength of the Brigade. being now 26 Officers & 1900 Rank & File. - the 6th Royal Irish Fusiliers. had suffered the heaviest casualties having a fighting strength of only 1 Officer & some 250 men". Hiram was originally with the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (2329) and had been through the Boer War. He enlisted again as soon as War was declared. Hiram is listed as HARAM and ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS on the Memorial. Thank you Lorraine Burns for some family information. Hiram is also remembered on the St. John's Church Roll of Honour, in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour and on the Banbridge Memorial (see photos x 3). See photos for Hiram's Medal Index Card, his listing on the Ireland Casualties WW1, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, his Headstone Report x 2, his Boer War Medal listing, his Will x 2, the Royal Irish Fusiliers Cap Badge, Hiram's Attestation Papers x 6 and his Pension Records x 3. Hiram's Grave inscription reads "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN". Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 36 FOR THE 10th (IRISH) DIVISION BOOK AUGUST 1915, PHOTOS x 4 FOR THE DIVISIONS OFFICER CASUALTIES, PHOTOS x 2 FOR THE DIVISIONS HONOURS AWARDED and the 10th (Irish) Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division Hiram was with when he fell).