Harold Forster

Who was Harold Forster?

Major Harold Thomas Forster DSO and Bar, MC and Bar was a British career soldier. He first served in the Royal Marines Light Infantry in the late 19th century before joining the British Army where he served in the ranks of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. By the outbreak of the First World War he was a company sergeant major. Repeatedly decorated during the war he was commissioned, continuing to serve with the Royal Berkshires until 1918. He then transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment as second-in-command. At the time of his death, he was acting commanding officer following the earlier death of the battalion's lieutenant-colonel.

Forster was also a keen sportsman and played a season of first-class cricket for Hampshire County Cricket Club in 1911. He was a left-handed batsman who bowled left-arm slow-medium.