James Mckechnie Forsyth b1899 Shotts Lanarkshire Scotland to Laura near Adelaide

[1000xlch]

Thanks all for the information will try and follow up all links. The reason I know so much is my auntie from Scotland stayed with James on the farm at Laura for 6 months and had a job. He had 4 children who I know about and my auntie is in contact with one of them. So looks like either across land etc in Australia or boat with horses, but as people have said the quarantine rules etc. Will report back when I find some more information.
John Rowley

[Neale1961]

John, My initial thinking around importing animals was changed during the thread as evidence emerged of the cargo on PERSIC 1925. There’s no doubt in my mind, that is your James, even though the passenger list lacks enough detail to verify 100 %.

[1000xlch]

Thanks Neale 1961 it sort of looks that way that may be overland from another Australian state. Weird I found 1919 a Private J M Forsyth on Port Lincoln boat for Adelaide on Genes Reunited thanks to another poster tipping me off. Cannot see the record though and is the outgoing list from the UK! Just checked the South Australian gov website of 1909-1924 offical pasenger lists into the country and he is not on at all. The Port Lincoln boat from Australian archives 1919 does not show a J M Forsyth only a married female and her daughter. So outgoing lists him but the incoming one does not!

[1000xlch]

Further reseach does indeed indicate he was a private in the Scots Guards 1914 demobbed 1919, occupation was ploughman, so it must be him on the Port Lincoln boat to Adelaide 1919 but military personnel were not officially listed! Have seen the passenger for that boat and he not on there. There is a Mrs M Forsyth and a daughter though. Also suspect the 1925 article of Persic boat is also him with the Clydesdales.

[Neale1961]

See my post # 2 about James serving with the Scots Gurards. His military record is available online.
I can assure you that the Scots Guard NEVER served in Australia during WW1.
James was demobilized on 4 April 1919. He was then a civilian and would have been unable to travel as a military service man. At that time, farm workers were in demand, and he would have returned to his farm work.

If you have found a Private J Forsyth inbound to Adelaide in 1919, (although you have no record ! ),  it will most probably be an Australian soldier returning after the war. For the reasons above, it is quite improbable that it is your Scotsman James.

[matthewj64]

'...Mr Forsyth came from Scotland in 1925...'
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97263003

M

[Neale1961]

Thanks for the link Matthew which supports other documents already found for 1925.

[matthewj64]

Photo of Mrs J Forsyth, Laura SA, 1951
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93862796

Photo - J Forsyth with clydesdale, 1938?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131541271

M

[Neale1961]

Matthew, nice photos with the horses!