Pte. Carlo Forzani

Twice wounded in battle, Private Carlo Forzani served Canada with courage during both world wars.

The First World War

The Canadian Expeditionary Force, 10th Battalion (Canadians)

Private Carlo Forzani was born in Borgomanero, Italy, on 13 August 1896, according to a certified civil birth record issued by the Comune di Borgomanero (record accessed via Ancestry). His 1915 Canadian Expeditionary Force attestation papers list his birth as 1 August 1897. He immigrated to North America in 1911 with his father, Giuseppe (Joseph) Forzani, traveling via New York before settling in Calgary, Alberta.

On 29 December 1915, Carlo enlisted in Calgary, listing his father as next of kin. He completed initial training with the 89th Battalion before departing for overseas service. On 2 June 1916, Carlo sailed for England aboard the S.S. Olympic, arriving in Liverpool on 8 June. After further training, he was transferred to the 10th Battalion and proceeded to France on 27 August 1916, joining his battalion in Flanders the following day.

The unit was heavily engaged on the Western Front, and Carlo soon experienced the realities of trench warfare. During the Battle of Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917, Carlo suffered a gunshot wound to his left hand and was evacuated to England. He returned to his battalion on 26 August 1917 and returned to France the next day.

On 16 August 1918, during the Allied offensive near Amiens, he was wounded again, receiving a gunshot wound to the buttocks. He was treated at the 11th Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre, 47th Casualty Clearing Station, and No. 6 General Hospital before transfer to the Canadian Soldiers’ Base Depot and Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp. He rejoined his battalion in early September and later took leave in the United Kingdom.

Post-war medical entries in early 1919 record follow-up examinations at the 3rd Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre and No. 14 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. Once his case was closed, he sailed from Liverpool to Halifax aboard the S.S. Belgic on 16 August 1919, reported to the Military District depot in Calgary, and received formal discharge on 28 August 1919.

Carlo’s service file includes a medal card confirming entitlement to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He returned to civilian life in Calgary and, during the Second World War, again served Canada with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME). He died on 5 June 1979.

Sources

• Library and Archives Canada. Personnel Records of the First World War, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3223, File 23, Item ID 401663.

• Comune di Borgomanero (Novara, Italy), Estratto dell’atto di nascita for Carlo Forzani; certificate issued 29 January 1965; digital image accessed via Ancestry.

• Passenger manifest for Giuseppe and Carlo Forzani, travel from New York to Calgary; digital image accessed via Ancestry.

Researched and compiled by Luigi Audia