72465 Major Hamish Stewart FORBES, MBE, MC, MiD, 1 Welsh Guards: POW

Date of Commission: June 1939
Personal Number: 72465
Rank: Major
Name: Hamish Stewart FORBES, MBE, MC, MiD
Unit: Welsh Guards

Date of Birth: 15 February 1916
Place of Birth:

Date of Capture: 29 May 1940
Place of Capture: Quaëdypre, France

POW Number: 541
POW Camps: Oflag IX A/Z, Oflag VII C, Oflag VI B, Oflag VII B, Oflag IX A/Z

 

Date of Commission: 9 July 1937
Personal Number: 72465
Rank: Major
Name: Hamish Stewart FORBES, MBE, MC, MiD
Unit: 1 Welsh Guards


London Gazette : 9 July 1937
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34416/page/4418/data.pdf
SUPPLEMENTARY RESERVE OF OFFICERS
The undermentioned to be 2nd Lts. July 1937:—
FOOT GUARDS.
W. G'ds.—
Hamish Stewart FORBES (late Cadet, Eton Coll. Contgt., Jun. Div. O.T.C.).

London Gazette : 25 July 1939
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34648/supplement/5108/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS. -
W. G'ds-.—
2nd Lt. Hamish Stewart FORBES, from Supp. List, Res. of Off., W. G'ds., to be 2nd Lt. 2nd July 1939.

London Gazette : 21 March 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35112/supplement/1645/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
W. G'ds.
2nd Lt. H. S. Forbes (72465), to be Lt. 1st Jan. 1941.

London Gazette : 29 November 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37368/supplement/5789/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: —
The Military Cross.
Second-Lieutenant Hamish Stewart FORBES (72465), Welsh Guards (London, S.W.6).

London Gazette : 20 December 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37396/supplement/6187/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotion in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: —
To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
Captain (temporary) Hamish Stewart FORBES, M.C. (72465), Welsh Guards.

London Gazette : 2 July 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37635/supplement/3375/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
The undermentioned Lts to be Capts 1st July, 1946.—
W.G'ds
(War Subs Capt.) H S FORBES, MBE, M.C. (72465).

London Gazette : 21 February 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37886/supplement/854/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
W. G'ds
The appt. of Capt. H. S. FORBES, M.B.E., M.C. {72465), to a Perm. Reg. Commn. is antedated to 15th Feb. 1939, under the terms of A.C.I. 638 of 1946.

London Gazette : 19 June 1953
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39893/supplement/3455/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
W.G.
Capt. H. S. FORBES, M.B.E., M.C.. (72465), to be Maj., 13th Apr. 1953.

London Gazette : 29 August 1958
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41484/supplement/5329/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
W.G.
REGULAR ARMY.
Maj. H. S. FORBES, M.B.E., M.C. (72465), retires on retired pay, 29th Aug. 1958. (Reserve Liability.)

 

View Record via Ancestry

PART I.
GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.

1. No. - [72465]
RANK - Lieut.
SURNAME - FORBES
CHRISTIAN NAMES - HAMISH STEWART
DECORATIONS -

2. UNIT (ARMY) - WELSH GUARDS

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - G.H.Q. Tps. B.E.F.

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 15/2/16

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - June 1939

6. CIVILIAN TRADE (OR PROFESSION EXAMINATIONS PASSED WHILE P/W) - Examination intermediate of R.I.B.A. not notified yet.

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - 414 Fulham Ro., London S.W.6.

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - Quadypres [? Quaëdypre], France

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? - No

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
OFLAG VII C/H Laufen - -
OFLAG VI B Warburg - -
OFLAG VII B Eichstätt - 1 April '45
OFLAG IX A/Z Rotenburg - -


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
NO

12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
NO
12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
YES


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. -
RANK - Lieut.
SURNAME - FORBES
CHRISTIAN NAMES - HAMISH STEWART


2. LECTURES before Capture:
( a ) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).
YES, at AVESNES-LE-COMPTE, PAS DE CALAIS.
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom.
YES, as above.

3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
Routine questions

4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did yo make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt accurately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, wherein when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to your companions?)
Yes. unsuccessful several at LAUFEN.
unsuccessful several at WARBURG.
unsuccessful several at Eichstätt.
partly successful ROTENBURG
Successful on March.


5. SABOTAGE
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc, when employed on working-parties or during escape? (Give details, places and dates.)
NO

6. COLLABORATION with enemy:
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
NO

7. WAR CRIMES
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of "Form Q" on which to make your statement.
(NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on "War Crimes" and describes the kind of offences coning under this title.)



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
-


SECURITY UNDERTAKING
I fully realise that all information relating the matters covered by the questions in Part II. are of a highly secret and official nature.

I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.

Date 18th April '45
Signature Hamish S. Forbes

 

Recommendation for Award for Forbes, Hamish Stewart Rank: Lieutenant Service... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/57/703 [WO373/57-ir367]
Name Forbes, Hamish Stewart
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: P/72465
Regiment: Training Battalion Welsh Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Repatriated PoWs
Award: Military Cross
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 29 November 1945


P/72465 Lieutenant Hamish Stewart FORBES, Training Battalion, WELSH GUARDS

Lieut. FORBES was Intelligence Officer 1st Batt. WELSH GUARDS during the operations in FRANCE & BELGIUM 17 May - 29 May 1940.

During the battle of ARRAS 17 - 23 May and the subsequent withdrawal, he performed most gallant and valuable service, often under heavy fire, in liaison and Recce duties.

On 29 May when the Batt. was heavily attacked by German Infantry and tanks at VFYWEG, and their positions infiltrated and encircled, he moved about his duties under heavy fire and was of great assistance in the defence of Batt. H.Q. When a withdrawal was ordered he remained to the last organising the withdrawal. His party was finally overrun and made prisoner, by undoubtedly his cool conduct and willingness to sacrifice himself, materially assisted the safe withdrawal of others.

During his long captivity Lieut. FORBES made no less than 10 attempts to escape for which he suffered heavy penalties, but which never broke his morale or determination to try again.

MC

Very strongly recommended. Not forwarded before as the Commanding Officer at the time, Brigadier COPELAND-GRIFFITHS, had to wait till the release of prisoners-of-war so as to verify certain of the facts.

Signed Date 4 Aug 45 V. COPELAND-GRIFFITHS formerly Commanding 1st Batt. WELSH GUARDS, 26 Jan 1938 to 14 July 1940

 

Recommendation for Award for Forbes, Hamish Stewart Rank: Lieutenant Service... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/100/571
Name Forbes, Hamish Stewart
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 72465
Regiment: Welsh Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Royal Air Force
Award: Mention in Despatches
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 04 January 1946