We regret to advise of the death of Colonel John Gordon Forth CD, P.Eng., BASc, BEng, (Retd) on 9 June 2011 in Ottawa after a short battle with cancer.
Col Forth enrolled in Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve in 1948 under the University Reserve Training Plan and started his university training at Joint Services Colleges in Kingston. The next Fall he transferred to the Canadian Army Reserve and continued his university education. Under the Canadian Officers Training Corps program. In 1952 he transferred to the Canadian Army Regular with the Royal Canadian Engineers, graduated from Royal Military College that year and underwent Officer training. Upon completion of his officer training he joined 23 Field Squadron in Korea, as Reconnaissance Officer and Troop Officer.
Returning to Canada in 1953, he attended the University of Toronto to complete a Bachelor of Chemistry degree and in 1954 he was posted to The Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering as Troop Commander in Apprentice Training Squadron. After a short tour, Captain Forth moved on to 1 Airborne Troop RCE in Calgary in 1955 as Second in Command and was later appointed Officer Commanding (1956 - 58).
After a tour as Second in Command of 24 Works Company at Camp Borden, he attended the Canadian Army Staff College in Kingston. From there was posted to the Office of Chief of Engineering at Army Headquarters. On completion of this assignment, Major Forth was appointed Commanding Officer 1 Field Squadron (1962 - 64) and then remained in Petawawa for another year with the Army Tactics and Organization Board.
Completing the Petawawa tour, in 1965, LCol Forth proceeded to Headquarters, Mobile Command, St-Hubert, QC, as Senior Staff Officer, Field Engineering and in 1968 as Acting Command Engineer. The next year Col Forth proceeded to Canadian Forces Headquarters as Director Construction Engineering Requirements and, in 1970, became Director Military Engineering. After some language training in Quebec City, he returned to Headquarters, Mobile Command as Deputy Chief of Staff, Requirements. and was subsequently appointed Commandant, Ecole des Langues des Forces canadiennes, CFB St-Jean, QC (1972 -75). Col Forth returned to language training in 1975 as a student at Canadian Forces Foreign Language School on Japanese language training. He subsequently held appointments as Canadian Forces Attaché to Seoul, South Korea (1976-1978) and Tokyo, Japan (1976-1980). After these two tours, he returned to Ottawa as Deputy Director General Properties and Utilities (1980 - 82).
Retiring from the Canadian Forces in 1982, Col Forth initially worked for about a year with the Petroleum Monitoring Agency of the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources before moving to Carleton University where he spent 16 years as Assistant Dean of Engineering. Following retirement he served in various voluntary positions.
A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, 439 Queen Street, Ottawa ON, at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 15, followed by a reception in Cathedral Hall. Internment in the Christ Church Cathedral Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, donations to Harvest House, Christ Church Cathedral Foundation, or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.