Description
1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medal Trio, Engineering Sub Lieut Andrew Galloway Forbes, Royal Naval Reserve served on Armed Cruisers, Merchant Navy Officer.
Trio officially impressed: “Eng. S. Lt. A.G. Forbes, R.N.R.”
Confirmed on the medal roll, with copy service papers and Merchant Navy papers with photograph.
Swing mounted for wear on old ribbons.
Andrew Galloway Forbes was born on 2nd March 1874 in Colinton, a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland.
He was raised in Midcalder as of 1881, the son of Aberdeen Man William Forbes, who was the Inspector of the County Police in Midcalder.
By 1891 they lived in Dunferline, where 17 year of Andrew was a Engineer Fitter, and his father was the Superintendent of Police.
As of at least 1896 he had moved down south to Liverpool to work with the Mercantile Marine, shown as that time on the crew list of the ship Flavian as a 3rd Engineer.
As of 1913 he was Chief Engineer of the SS Belgian being spotted sailing into New Orleans, USA.
Being a Sailor with the Merchant Navy, he was mobilised for active service in World War 1, becoming Engineering Sub Lieutenant (Temporary) on 12th August 1915, then Engineering Lieutenant on 8th January 1919.
For his ships service in WW1, he first saw service on the Armoured Merchant Cruiser A.M.C. Marmora, followed by the R.F.A. Mixol until about 27th July 1917 when he joined the RFA Belgol.
From what can see he was on the Belgol during 1918 and through to 1919, during that time:
“In December 1918, RFA Belgol supported a Royal Navy squadron that had been sent to the Baltic Sea as part of Operation Red Trek. Other supporting ships were RFA Bacchus (1915) and sister ship RFA Prestol. RFA Belgol remained in Russian waters until February 1920.”
After the war was over he relinquished his commission on 8th January 1920, returning to the Merchant Navy.
With the Merchant Navy he was a 2nd Engineer and held a 1st Class board of Trade Certificate number 33147.
He remained around Liverpool for most of his life working from the local docks.
Later shown on the 1939 census as a “Marine Engineer” living in Crosby, Lancs.
He died in Liverpool on 22nd October 1944.
