Portrait of Sergeant Samuel Forsyth V.C.

Soldier's portrait

This photographic portrait of Sergeant Samuel Forsyth (Service no. 4/400) in military uniform was originally donated to the Dominion Museum in 1919 as part of a project to collect photographs of New Zealand's war heroes. It is possibly a wedding photo taken in Scotland, from his marriage to Mary S. Forsyth of Glasgow, whom he married during the war.

Samuel Forsyth's war service

Originally from Wellington, Forsyth enlisted at the outbreak of war. He sailed with the main body from Wellington on 16 October 1914, arriving 3 December 1914 in Suez, Egypt. Forsyth served at Gallipoli, where he received a slight wound, and was evacuated twice with illness. He served as Sergeant in the New Zealand Engineers, 3rd Field Company, but was seconded to 2nd Auckland Battalion in August 1918.

Forsyth was killed in action at Grevillers, near Bapaume, France, on 24 August 1918. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Grevillers, and his 'most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attack.' The London Gazette also reported that Forsyth's 'courage and coolness, combined with great power and initiative, proved an invaluable incentive to all who were with him, and he undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades.' (18 October 1918). He also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France (1. 1. 39).

A National War Museum

This photograph was intended for display in a gallery of New Zealand's war heroes. The gallery was to feature in the National War Museum, a project planned by the New Zealand Defence Department. Gathering portraits of men who had won medals for gallantry was a major task for the Dominion Museum around 1917 through to the early 1920s. They were to hang in the planned National War Museum in Wellington, but this museum was never realised.