Private Charlie Forster remembered on Day 2 of Tasmania’s 100 days of heroes
REMEMBERING 19-year-old Charlie Forster, of Glebe, who was killed in action in France in 1918.
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EIGHTEEN year old Charlie Forster was working for Cramp Brothers Coachbuilders in Harrington St, Hobart, when he enlisted for war service in January 1918.
He was the sixth child of Thomas and Annie Forster who ran a shop on the corner of Davenport and Bayley St, Glebe, before it moved to the corner of Park and Bishop streets in New Town.
Charlie was a former student of the Elizabeth Street State School and had spent four years in the cadets. The family was living at 11 Bell St (now Bayley St), Glebe, when he joined up.
Just before his 19th birthday he embarked for England on HMAT Nestor with 1555 men and 20 nurses.
While at sea he wrote a long letter in diary form, including a vivid description of the Panama Canal and the voyage up the east coast of North America. During this time he celebrated his 19th birthday and won two cigars.
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The letter concludes on April 24, with a description of the train trip from Liverpool to ͞Sutton Veny Camp where Charlie was to be stationed for several months for training. Another letter describes his life in the camp.
Within weeks he was sick in hospital with tonsillitis before joining his unit in France in late August 1918.
He was killed in action in France just a month later, falling at Jeancourt on September 23, 1918.
Private Charles Walter Forster is remembered at tree number 123 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue, planted on February 15, 1919. His name is also recorded on the honour rolls at Elizabeth College, Hobart Town Hall and the Swan St church.
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