1914 Star. No clasp (970 Pte. P. Forsky. 1.Gord: Highrs)

Important: A unique recorded surname amongst Great War soldiers of the British Army - sometimes referred to as 'Forisky' (sic).

Prisoner-of-War: Private Peter Forsky, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders is confirmed captured and interred as a Prisoner-of-War, at 'La Basse' on, 27 October 1914 (IRRC records refer), and subsequently held at POW Camp located at Hameln, Germany. This was an an 'Other Ranls' POW Camp or 'Mannschaftslager', within X Army Corps district in, Hannover, Germany - Hameln camp being located 2 km (1 mi) from Hameln, and the parent camp of many 'Work Camps' in the district. Peter's extant International Red Cross POW Records show that he was born at Bathgate, Scotland on, 26 October 1892, and that his next of kin was a brother residing in Bathgate. On his return to Scotland, the Edinburgh Electoral Roll for 1919, records 'Lance-Corporal P. Forsky, residing at, 41 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, Scotland. By 1921 Peter had relocated to Glasgow, where he is recorded on the electoral roll there as living at, 15 Firhill Street, Glasgow

Lance Corporal Peter Forsky, is recorded having been repatriated from internment as a Prisoner-of-War per the release announcement published in the 'Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry) issue of 18 February 1919 - which shows that his native place of residence was 'Bathgate' (West Lothian, Scotland)

Note: Although the recipient was entitled to a clasp & roses for the 1914 Star -he never subsequently claimed the clasp & roses, and hence no dated clasp or roses were ever issued to him

Medals Verification: The recipient was entitled to three x campaign medals for his Great War service per the respective medal rolls of the Gordon Highlanders, as under:

- 1914 Star: Reference WO 329/2475 (shows first entered theatre of war 'France & Flanders', on, 28 August 1914
- British War Medal. Silver issue: Reference WO 329/1652
- Interallied Victory Medal: Reference WO 329/1652

Peter Forsky (sic), fifth son of Peter Forisky (General Labourer) & Mary Forisky, was a native of Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, where he was born on, 26 October 1892. The 1901 National Census for Scotland, records the 'Forisky' family residing at, 4 North Street, Bathgate. Linlithgowshire, at which time Peter was living with his parents, and four older sibling brothers, vide, James, Charles, Manus & James (other occupants included 3 x 'Visitors' and one boarder). Peter's unique regimental number '970' indicates that he enlisted in the British Army sometime during 1912, at which time he would have been 19 years old when he was posted to the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders. He entered theatre of war 'France & Flanders' on, 28 August 1914. He was captured by the enemy at 'La Bassee' on 26/27 October 1914

Sold together with some hard-copy photocopied research

Condition: GVF

Code: 22601