World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British King George V on October 18, 1915 at Buckingham Palace in London, England for his actions as a lieutenant in the 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, British Army, between 7 and 9 August 1915 at Gallipoli, Turkey during World War I. Born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, England, he studied at Westminster College in London, England for two years and become a teacher at the Manchester Grammar School. Following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914, he received a commission as a lieutenant in the 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment and was sent to the Middle East where he participated in the Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey, for which he won the Victoria Cross. Following the war, he served briefly with the British Indian Army and achieved the rank of major before returning to England where he established two preparatory schools that eventually failed. During World War II he served in the British Home Guard at Essex, England. He died in Holyport, Berkshire, England at the age of 53. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "The Vinyard, Gallipoli, 7-9 August 1915, Lieutenant William Thomas Forshaw, 9th Bn, Manchester Regiment. During the period 7/9 August 1915 at Gallipoli, when holding the north-west corner of the "Vineyard" against heavy attacks by the Turks, Lieutenant Forshaw not only directed his men but personally threw bombs continuously for over 40 hours. When his detachment was relieved, he volunteered to continue directing the defence. Later, when the Turks captured a portion of the trench, he shot three of them and recaptured it. It was due to his fine example and magnificant courage that his very important position was held." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal (1914-20), the Victory Medal (1914-19), the India Medal (with Mentioned in Despatches oak leaf, Mahsad 1919-20 and Waziristan 1919-21 clasps), the King George VI Coronation Medal (1937), and the 1939-1945 Defence Medal. His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Museum of the Manchester Regiment, Forshaw Gallery, at Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England. In 1996 a Blue Plaque in his honor was erected at Ladysmith Barracks in Ashton-under-Lyne.