Gordon Mitchell Forsyth, RFC

[Harper]

I just read in a book that the artist Gordon Forsyth (1879-1952) volunteered for the RFC in 1916.

Did men join the RFC directly or did the have to be in the Army first?

Of course he may have volunteered for the RFC rather than be conscripted into the infantry, but that is conjecture.

I would be interested if any members have details of his military career.

Many thanks

Harper

 

[nieuport11]

You will find his military record in AIR 79/440/47549 which is available via findmypast

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11615265

Initially all RFC men came via the Army but later in the war direct entry was introduced

[quemerford]

It's a fair question: RAF cadets began around the end of 1916 I recall?

[Harper]

Thanks for the lead and I found a file in Findmypast.  Not the most informative of files, but at least some more information. It looks as if he went straight into RFC in August 1916.

All I can gather from "Movements" is that he might have been based near Heaton in Manchester. 

I am amused that his Civilian Occupation is described as "Draughtsman", as he was head of the Art Department at Pilkingtons Tile and Pottery factory near Swinton.

 

[Airshipped]

Looking at the image you posted I'd hazard a guess as the '+SAG' as being No.4 School of Aerial Gunnery. Probably Marske?

http://www.nelsam.org.uk/NEAR/Airfields/Histories/Marske.htm

 

(Don't have my Cross & Cockade journals to hand but they put together a comprehensive list of what was stationed where and when).  

 

Heaton Park would've been for demobilisation/dispersal.

[shred]

Peace vase made at Pilkinton's, Clifton, painted by Gordon Forsyth.

 

Bottom of the vase.

[mancpal]

Beautiful vase. I think the "Heaton" mentioned is likely to be Heaton Park though it was far more than a demob/dispersal site. The park was/is the largest municipal park in Europe, about half of the Manchester Pals were trained there and earlier this month was the focus of the national commemoration of the centenary of 1/7/16. It became a dispersal camp at the end of the war though as I've said it's military history pre dates this period. Pilkington Tiles factory is at Clifton, Salford which is as stated near Swinton (I was involved in the design/build of their exhibition stands years ago). They also supplied the tiles for the magnificent Victoria Baths in Manchester which some may remember won a considerable amount to be put towards its restoration on a TV show a few years back.

 

Simon

 

[Harper]

Many thanks to members who have helped me with the service record of G M Forsyth. It would be  interesting to to know if he saw action or was based in the UK for the duration of his time in the RFC/RAF.

 

In the mean time, Forsyth designed a wide variety of memorials after the war including the Lion on top of the pillar which is on a plinth overlooking the M60/M62 at Swinton.

 

 

 Much larger and more elaborate is the war memorial in the form of a raredos behind the altar of the Albion United Reformed Church in Ashton-under-Lyne. Forsyth was both artist and designer. There are eight figure panels each within elaborate foliate border in an orange vermilion glaze. Four other panels list the names of the dead in a tube line gothic script.

https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/79749

 

There is also a window by Forsyth in St Anne's Church Swinton and is a memorial to Hugh Brocklehurst Pilkington who died in WW1.

 

The 1914 'Pro Patria' vase is at Townley Hall.