Peter Forby

Peter was born on the 1 October 1893 at Mallala to James Forby and Catherine Rowett.  James was born in 1849 at sea on the ship “TRAFALGAR.  John was born in 1817 in Fettwell, Norfolk, England, he emigrated disembarking  at Adelaide on the 17 January 1849 with his wife Sophia aged 31 years old, John aged 9, William aged 1 and new born James.  The family went to live at Mallala.   John and Sophia had the following children;

              Edward was born in 1837 and died in 1864 aged 27 years old.

              John was born in 1839 and died in 1920 aged 81 years old.

              William was born in 1847 and died in 1921 aged 74 years old.

              James was born in 1849 and died in 1927 aged 78 years old.

              Simon Peter was born in 1850 and died in 1923 aged 73 years old.

              Temperance was born in 1853 and died in 1855 aged 2 years old.

              Mary Ann was born in 1854 and died in 1855 aged 1 year old.

              George Britton was born in 1856 and died in 1930 aged 74 years old.

              Elizabeth Ann was born in 1857 and died in 1938 aged 81 years old.

              Susan was born in 1861 and died in 1861 aged 0 years old.

James was a farmer and resided at Urania, Mallala and Virginia. 

James married Catherine Rowett on the 7 July 1877 at Mallala at the residence of John Forby by the rev. J. S. Wayland.  They had the following children;

              Edward James was born on the 7 August  1878 at Maitland.

              Sophie Jane was born on the 18 September 1880 at Maitland.

              Joseph was born on the 30 March 1883 at Mallala.

              Bertha May was born on the 6 April 1885 at Maitland.

              William Henry was born on the 6 May 1887 at Mallala.

              Walter James was born on the 30 October 1888 at Mallala.

              Catherine was born on the 20 May 1889 at Mallala.

              Olive Violet was born on the 25 June 1891 at Mallala.

              Peter was born on the 1 October 1893 at Mallala.

              Rebecca was born on the 16 April 1896 at Mallala.

James died on the 30 November 1927 aged 78 years old at Virginia.

Peter enlisted on the 12 January 1916 when he was 22 years old. (He was listed on the Virginia list in the newspaper).  He was appointed to the ‘B’ Company, 2^nd Depot Battalion. 

Peter arrived in France and joined the fighting on the 22 September 1916.  On the 6 May 1917 he was wounded by shell fragments to the head when a shell exploded nearby.  He was admitted to hospital where he remained for many months.  Eventually he re-joined his unit.  He returned to duty and was promoted Lance Corporal on the 25 May 1918.   He contracted influenza and admitted to hospital.

When the war ended in November he was sent on leave to England.  He left Le Havre, France on the 25 April 1919 to Long Deverill, England.  He returned to Australia on the 16 June 1919 on the “ORMONDE” and discharged on the 13 September 1919. 

When Peter was 27 years old he married Alice Maud Rowse aged 23 years old on the 9 June 1920 at the Methodist Church, Virginia.  Alice’s father was Tom Rowse.  Peter and Alice had the following children;

              Beryl Iris was born on the 19 March 1921 at Adelaide.

              Roselyn Bertha was born on the 15 August 1922 at Adelaide.

              Shirley was born in 1929.

Peter died on the 8 July 1964 aged 70 years old of and at Gawler.  Alice had died on the 1 October 1971 aged 71 years old also at Gawler.