Heroes of Strathkerbet (pdf – 17.5MB) - Get a Free Blog

One Local Hero
The story is told of a former schoolmaster of Inverarity
School, Lt. Col. Robert Forbes, Black Watch, (married to
Isabella Syme), who, whilst serving with the 10th. Essex, one
of the best fighting units of WW1, became involved in one of
many dangerous missions.
“Immediately in front of the Essex position at Petiti Planty lay
the open rising ground of Mont Carmel and beyond this rise
the country dipped into a labyrinth of orchards and small
fields, fringed with thick hedges running up to the northern
outskirts of the village of Preux. Before the German
occupation this picturesque little hamlet nestled closely up
against the thickly wooded forest, but the depredations of the
invader had bitten large clearings into the forest edges, in
order to supply the trenches with timber. In the middle of one
of these clearings, situated just behind the village, there stood
an imposing German sawmill. This clearing and the sawmill
formed the main goal of the Battalion. To get there it had to
pass through a maze of orchards and streams and hedges and
deploy on the clear ground beyond.
Lieut.-Colonel Robert Forbes, D.S.O.,
Black Watch.
To the 54th. Brigade was assigned the task of clearing these orchards and the village of Preux, after which the
Essex would push on to the further objective. But the village proved a hard nut to crack, and obstinate resistance
was met on its northern outskirts, so that the Essex attack appeared to be frustrated. When Lt. Col. Forbes, now
in command of the Battalion, reconnoitring forward, discovered a gap of a couple of hundred yards in the enemy
lines, he saw his chance. Through this gap he determined to manouvre his command, and, leading them in person
through a single gate within the German posts, he
performed the phenomenal feat of forming up the
Battalion behind the enemy’s front line, advancing
to the attack of the support lines and gun positions,
while the enemy’s forward posts were still in
action. The manouvre was a brilliant success and
contributed very largely to the capture of a big
haul of prisoners in Preux, and the complete
breakdown of any further resistance in the forest.
“Six days later the Armistice was signed.” (Taken
from Records).
Syme family From left to right
Back row: Peter Syme, Cooper Syme
Middle row: Janet Syme, Colin Syme, William Syme
Front row: Robert Syme, Walter Syme and
Isabella Syme who married Col. R. Forbes.
(Photo courtesy of Mrs. Anne Sim (Syme),
daughter of Robert (Bob) Syme, Little Lour).
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