Captain Service Number: 100260 Royal Engineers
Attached 21 Field Company Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners
Frederick John Neilson Forbes was born on 11th June 1918, the second son of the Reverend Henry Nicholl Forbes and his wife Phyllis Jessie Barrington née Neilson. Reverend Forbes served as an army chaplain during WW1, was the incumbent at St Mary and St Margaret Church from 1921 until 1959 and Chaplain to 605 Squadron until 1939. Frederick was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge where he is acknowledged as a scholar and exhibitioner.
Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners
On 18th Sep 1939 he accepted a Regular Army Emergency Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers. He was subsequently promoted to Captain.
Frederick was sent to India and was attached to the 21st Field Company of the Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners. Many officers and non-commissioned officers of the Corps of Royal Engineers served in India during the 20th century with the various units of the Indian Sappers and Miners. The 21st Field Company was part of the 4th Infantry Division. The division was formed in Egypt in 1939. It primarily had British officers and a few Indians in lower ranks but had a few Indian officers with junior ranks as high as Captain. It took part in campaigns in East Africa (Eritrea and Sudan), Syria, North Africa and Italy.
Frederick was killed in action on 3rd January 1942. He is buried in Benghazi War Cemetery Libya.
Probate was granted to Frederick’s widow Ida and his brother Harry.
Two of Frederick’s brothers, Hugh Harry Valentine and Patrick George Cran Barrington Forbes also served during the war.
