Forster, Robert John

Robert John Forster
	13 March 1890 – 12 December 1976
	;
Place of birth	Newcastleton, Scotland
Place of death	Montreal, Quebec
Place of burial	Montreal, Quebec
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Canadian Army
Rank	Sergeant

Robert John Forster (13 March 1890 - 12 December 1976) was a Canadian soldier who served in the Great War as a member of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles and the 3rd Canadian Divisional Signal Company.

Early Life

Robert was born at Underbournemouth Farm, near Newcastleton, Scotland on 13 March 1890 to parents Andrew and Elizabeth (nee Goodfellow). He emigrated to Montreal, Quebec and was employed as a bookkeeper prior to enlisting.^[1]

Service

Robert enlisted with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 6 February 1915 in Montreal, Quebec after having 1 months experience with the 5th Royal Highlanders. He trained at Valcartier, Quebec as a signaller before departing for Shornecliffe, England with his unit on 18 July 1915. After additional training he landed in France on 31 October 1915. On 7 February 1916 he was taken on strength as a sapper into the 3rd Canadian Divisional Signal Company. On 23 April 1916 he was promoted to Corporal and on 2 December 1917 he was promoted to Sergeant. He was discharged after the war on 29 March 1919 in Montreal.

Personal Life

After the war, he married Lilian Duff Dickie 11 Jun 1923 in St. Andrews Church, Montreal, Quebec. He worked as an accountant in Montreal and had two children (Robert Gordon and Ella Elizabeth), and enjoyed playing golf as a pastime.