Canadian Virtual War Memorial
George Arthur Crites Forrest
In memory of:
Engine Room Artificer George Arthur Crites Forrest
February 6, 1943
Military Service
V/33125
29
Navy
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
H.M.C.S. Louisburg
Additional Information
May 12, 1913
Montreal, Quebec
August 4, 1941
Montreal, Quebec
Son of William P. and Maud Mae (née Simser) Forrest, of Montreal, Quebec; brother of William and Gladys. He was the loving husband of Valerie Olive (née Dingle)Forrest, of Montreal, Quebec. Father of Jeffrey George and Judith Priscilla. Prior to enlistment, Engine Room Artificer Forrrest was in the employ of the Canadian Pacific Railway as a 'call-boy'. The basic prerequisite for the job was to own a bicycle. His responsibilities were to go around ringing doorbells, at the homes of train crews, to advise them that there presence was required to be on duty as a certain time. (Telephones were not as ubiquitous as they are now.) He then worked his way into the CPR shops in the 'Montreal Terminals' region of the CPR. Having a strong mechanical aptitude, he apprenticed and became a 'Fitter' or journeyman steam fitter. He earned his certification while working at the 'Outrement' shops and roundhouse. His apprentice certificate was issued on January 12, 1940. It states that he served his apprenticing years from May 14, 1930 to May 20, 1936.
Commemorated on Page 160 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada
Panel 10.
The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.
On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Details
Newspaper clipping – From the Montreal Star. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Details
Newspaper clipping – From the Montreal Star. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Details
Newspaper clipping – From the Montreal Gazette. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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