Samuel "Sam" Forest (1887-1917)
Derbyshire man served with 8th DLI commemorated on Arras Memorial
Sam Forest was born in Whitwell, Derbyshire and enlisted in the 8th Battalion of the Durham Light infantry (DLI).
He joined the battalion in time to participate with fighting at the Somme. The fighting here was intense, especially at the Butte de Warlencourt, where the mud bogged down the 8th Battalion and they suffered many casualties. In 1917 the Battalion was involved in the Battle of Arras, here Sam would have been killed in the action at the second battle around the Scarpe River on 24th of April 1917.
Sam received the British War Medal and the Victory medal for his service. Sam’s body was not identified for individual burial and so his name appears on the Arras Memorial.
Whitwell, Derbyshire roll of honour: http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Derbyshire/Whitwell.html
Birth date: 1887
Death date: 24-Apr-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Gypsy Hill Cottages, Whitwell Common, Derbyshire (Whitwell roll of honour)
Military service:
Previously: Royal Field Artillery, 46396
1st/8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Regimental Number: 301902
Private
Enlisted: Whitwell
Deployed: France
Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial Bay 8
Whitwell Bridge War Memorial, Whitwell, Derbyshire
1/8 DLI Battalion History
Gender: Male
Contributed by Daniel Hyatt
