Sole entitlement Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, VR, small letter reverse awarded to Sergeant Farrier, J. Forward, 2nd Dragoon Guards later 4th Dragoon Guards who saw all his service in Ireland and England.
Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, VR, small letter reverse; (3097 SERGT. FARR. J. FORWARD. 2/DGN. GDS.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
John Forward was born at Heathfield near Taunton, Somerset in 1852, son of Thomas Forward, a labourer, and his wife Sarah. The 1861 census reveals John living with his parents and two siblings in Heathfield.
John Forward was a labourer before attesting for the 2nd Dragoon Guards at Westminster Police Court, London on 3rd November 1870. He would be stationed at the Cavalry Barracks, Colchester at the time of the 1871 census.
Appointed Shoeing Smith on 9th March 1877 and Farrier on 8 June 1881. He was promoted to Farrier Sergeant in July 1882 although the exact date is not clear. Farrier Sergeant Forward was recommended for the Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on 1st January 1889 and was discharged on 2nd November 1891 in consequence of completing his second period of limited engagement. It is interesting to note that although he had transferred to the 4th Dragoon Guards by the time he received his long service medal it is named to his old regiment. He spent all of his 21 years service in Ireland and England and thus has no further medal entitlement.
John Forward married Alice Lynch at St. Luke’s Church, Cork on 17th November 1879. They had five children. When the 1901 census was taken John was living with his wife and four children at 7 Monnow Road, Bermondsey, where he was described as a 48 year old port messenger, By 1911 Alice Forward was a widow and still living at 7 Monnow Road, her husband having died in early 1902.
