The AIF Project

Benjamin FORBES

Regimental number821
Place of birthRushworth, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressWeston via West Maitland, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 6.5"
Weight170 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Elizabeth Butler, Weston via West Maitland, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date6 November 1914
Place of enlistmentKorumburra, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name8th Light Horse Regiment, 4th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/13/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 13 April 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll8th Light Horse Regiment
FateKilled in Action 7 August 1915
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 6), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
6
Family/military connectionsBrother: 820 Sergeant Bertram FORBES, 8th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 18 February 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Melbourne, 13 April 1915.

Taken on strength, 8th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron, Gallipoli, 26 May 1915.

Reported missing in action, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915.

Report amended, 15 August 1915, to 'killed in action, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915'.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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