Pte. Charles Howard Forbes

193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders)

Nova Scotia

1916

This is a studio portrait photo of Charles Forbes taken in 1916 before he went overseas later that year. He wears a balmoral with full length feathers and cap badge, and a standard non highland cut seven button tunic. His cap and collar badges appear to be General List, so he has not yet been issued 193^rd Battalion badges. He is missing his waist belt. Charles appears to be wearing a wedding ring even though he was single.

Military Service Record

Charles Howard Forbes was born in Oxford, Colchester County, NS, on February 17, 1894, the son of Hannah J. Smith (formerly Forbes) and Daniel Forbes. He was still living in Oxford when he enlisted in the 193^rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) in Truro, NS, on March 11, 1916. His attestation paper lists his trade as surveyor. He was single and had no prior militia or military service.  He was assigned the rank of private with service number 901192.

The 193^rd Battalion was headquartered in Truro, NS. Approximately two months after joining, Charles and the men of the new battalion, relocated to the large pre-war military training camp at Aldershot, NS, where they united with their three sister battalions of the newly formed Nova Scotia Highland Brigade. The four battalions trained together at Aldershot throughout the summer and early fall. In early October, the whole brigade entrained for Halifax, where they boarded the troopship RMS Olympic, and on October 13, 1916, they set sail for England.

After disembarking in England, the men were established at Whitley Camp in southern England. Word soon arrived that the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade would be dissolved. Two of the battalions, including Charles’ 193^rd Battalion were to be broken up and used as reinforcements for Canadian units already at the front. As a result, on December 5, 1916, Charles was transferred to the 73^rd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) and joined them in the field in France the following day. On February 24, 1917, he was transferred again, this time to a Nova Scotia unit, the 25^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) who were also at the front.

Charles saw action with the 25^th Battalion, including the capture of Vimy Ridge in mid April, 1917. The 25^th Battalion was then involved with the fighting to clear the Germans from the Douai Plains behind Vimy Ridge, near the large mining town of Lens. Charles was killed in action on May 6, 1917 during these operations. He was 23 years old. Charles was laid to rest at Lievin Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  0-4 (20-1-1.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo postcard
Source:  Robert MacLellan Collection

Pte. Charles Howard Forbes and Woman

193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders)

Nova Scotia

1916

This is a studio portrait photo of Charles Forbes and a woman, taken in 1916 before he went overseas later that year. He wears a balmoral with full length feathers and cap badge, a standard non highland cut seven button tunic, and a leather waist belt. He wears 193^rd Battalion cap and collar badges. Partly visible, but not legible, are brass shoulder numbers. The woman is not positively identified except for a handwritten notation on the back of the postcard that reads, “Dorothy & Charlie”. The backdrop appears to be the same as in the previous photo so it was probably taken in the same photo studio, only at a later time.

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  0-4 (20-1-2.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo postcard
Source:  Robert MacLellan Collection