Catalogue description Forrest family

This record is held by West Sussex Record Office

Details of ADD. MSS.
Reference: ADD. MSS.
Title: Forrest family
Description:

Papers of the Forrest family, members of the colonial service in India.

Date: 1857 - 1983
Related material:

See also PH 13,412 - 13,417 for photographs of Sir George Forrest and Cecile Forrest; and Lib 11,752 for The Story of the Delhi Mission 1908.

Held by: West Sussex Record Office, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

Forrest family of India

Physical description: 19 bundles
Immediate source of acquisition:

[Acc. 8897]

Subjects:
  • India
Administrative / biographical background:

Captain George Forrest, (1800 - 1859) son of Robert Edward Forrest, served in the East India Company Army, and won the Victoria Cross for his part in the defence of Delhi during the Indian Mutiny. He married Ann Edwards, daughter of E. Donovan Edwards in 1832. They had two sons.

 

The eldest son, Robert Edward Forrest, (1835 - 1914) served in the Irrigation Branch of the Indian Public Works Department for 22 years, and wrote several novels based on his experience of India, among them: Eight Days (1891); The Bond of Blood: An Indian Tale (1896); The Sword of Azreal (1903); The Ruby of Rajas'han: An Indian Tale. He married Mary Wild, daughter of Dr. G. J. Wild. They had one daughter, Cecile (c. 1882 - 1957) who never married.

 

His younger brother, Sir George William Forrest (1845 - 1926) was an historian of India. He wrote the History of the Indian Mutiny 1904 and the lives of Lord Roberts and Lord Clive. He was knighted in 1913. Letters written to 'Emma' survive amongst this collection and this may well be his daughter.

Link to NRA Record:

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