Manitoba Historical Society
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Memorable Manitobans: James Wallace Forbes (1878-?)

Commissioner, Manitoba Division, Canadian Red Cross.

Born at Moncton, New Brunswick, 28 July 1878. Son of Edward and Sarah Lowell (Wallace) Forbes. Married Laura Louise Rome, 30 June 1900. Has one son and four daughters. Was educated at University of Mt. Allison, Sackville, New Brunswick, Graduated in Arts. Forbes family came to Canada from Inverness, Scotland; settled at New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Major Forbes came to Manitoba, 1908; was employed by the Dominion Government. At the outbreak of the war, joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force (10th Battalion); Overseas, September 1914; France, transferred to 15th Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada; Saw service at Givenchy, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Sanctuary Wood, Somme, Arras. Promoted Major, 1915; Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, 1918; commanded battalion, December, 1917 to May, 1918; wounded at Sanctuary Wood, gassed at Arras; awarded the Distinguished Service Order (Sanctuary Wood) June, 1916; mentioned three times in dispatches; on returning from overseas was appointed Demobilization Officer for Manitoba and Western Ontario; afterwards was Auditor of the Customs and Excise Department; appointed to present position 1 June 1924. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, King Edward Lodge, AF & AM. Member of the Motor Country Club, Winnipeg Sketching Club. Anglican. Address, 72 Harrow Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

He is commemorated by Forbes Road in Winnipeg.

Sources:

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 31 March 2017

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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