This memorial tree was planted in memory of Private William Inglis Forsythe who was killed during the First World War.
William Inglis Forsythe was born in September 1881 in Cedar Hill, Lanark County, ON. After completing his schooling, he entered the workforce and eventually made his way to British Columbia where he was employed in the lumber industry. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 17 August 1915 in Vernon, BC and was initially assigned to the 54th (Kootenay) Battalion, sailing for England with this unit on 22 November 1915. Once overseas, he was transferred to the 7th (British Columbia Regiment) Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division.
In early April 1916, the Canadian Corps had taken over British positions extending from St. Eloi to Hooge in Belgium. For much of April, the 2nd Division battled for control of the St. Eloi salient on the right, while the 1st and 3rd divisions in the centre and left, were engaged principally in shelling, patrolling and sniping. It is during these actions that Private William Inglis Forsythe was killed on 15 April 1916. He was buried at the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, a few kilometres south of Ypres.
