Michael, Bernard, Frank and John Forkin.

BORN HULL 1887. SON OF MARTIN FORKIN (1854-1930) & ALICE SCANLON (1856-1911), OF 34, LIDDELL STREET, HULL AND 12, CLARA TERRACE, WEST PARADE, SPRING BANK, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRRESS). HIS MOTHER WAS BORN IN HULL. FATHER, MARTIN, WAS BORN IN IRELAND AND HAD MARRIED AT ST CHARLES BORROMEO CHURCH HULL. HIS FATHER WAS A FORMER ROYAL MARINE, HULL VOLUNTEER, CRACK MARKSMAN AND HAD WORKED FOR HULL CORPORATION FOR THIRTY YEARS. HIS FOUR SONS SERVED IN THE WAR.

MICHAEL FORKIN WORKED FOR EARLES SHIPBUILDING YARD AND RESIDED AT 1 PARK VIEW, SCULCOATES, LANE, HULL.

A FORMER RESERVIST. HE WAS ALSO AN ATHELETE AND GYMNAST AND HAD APPEARED BEFORE THE KING IN A GYMNASTIC DISPLAY. HE ENLISTED AT BEVERLEY. WENT TO FRANCE WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. SERVED AS A SERGEANT IN THE 2ND ROYAL IRISH RIFLES. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING, THEN KILLED ON 19/10/1914, AGED 27. HE IS BURIED AT LE TOURET MILITARY CEMETERY, FRANCE.

MICHAEL FORKIN'S NAME, IS RECORDED ON THE ST CHARLES BORROMEO CATHOLIC CHURCH WW1 MEMORIAL, JARRATT STREET, HULL.

HIS BROTHERS, CORPORAL, FRANK FORKIN, SERVED IN THE ROYAL IRISH  REGIMENT BAND AND LIVED AT 4, EDWARDS TERRACE, HOLMES STREET, HULL.

SERGEANT, BERNARD FORKIN, WAS A FORMER ENGINEER AT EARLES SHIP YARD AND SERVED IN THE ROYAL ENGINEERS AND EX 8485, EYR. HE LIVED WITH HIS PARENTS AT 34, LIDDELL STREET. PRIVATE, JOHN FORKIN WAS A FORMER SHIP STEWARD ON THE CANADIAN ROUTES AND SERVED WITH THE YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/73224754/person/38264924637

Comment Submitted on: 2021/06/14

Good morning Paul, My name is Larry , I am currently researching for a book I hope to publish relating to the soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment who were awarded the 1914 Star.

I am very interested to see that at least one of these soldiers is recorded on your excellent site, 9270 Sgt Michael Forkin who was killed in action at a small hamlet called lePilly on 19th October 1914. I note that you have Michael recorded as being a member of The Royal Irish Rifles. I have some records which may assist in determining which regiment he was a member of when he was killed. Best regards, Larry Scallan  scallan.larry@gmail.com