On 24 August 1918, during the Second Battle of Bapaume, he played a key role in eliminating a machine gun nest that was holding up the advance of his battalion, but was then killed by a sniper.

[4] Suffering from jaundice,[5] he was medically evacuated in November 1915 to the island of Lemnos and then onto England, where he spent several months in various hospitals around the country.

[8] On recovering his health, in April 1916 Forsyth was posted to the NZEF base at Étaples[5] before rejoining the 3rd Field Company,[9] now serving on the Western Front in support of the New Zealand Division's 3rd Infantry Brigade.

[9] From mid-September 1916, during the New Zealand Division's involvement in the Battle of the Somme, Forsyth's company was heavily engaged in construction of roads and strongpoints[11] and then from early October was stationed in Armentieres, now attached to the 2nd Infantry Brigade.

[12] The 3rd Field Company worked to improve the defences of the sector, which included the construction of several small dams to direct excess water towards the German trenches.

[5] In late August 1918, Forsyth was on a temporary attachment to the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment, during the early stages of the Hundred Days Offensive.

Forsyth, scouting ahead of his platoon, made contact with two British tanks and despite being exposed to the German machine guns, guided them in, providing covering fire for the New Zealanders.

Despite having been wounded in the arm, he assisted its crew to evacuate the tank and then organised them, along with several other soldiers, into a flanking party to attack the machine gun nest holding up the advance.

Forsyth's dashing leadership and total disregard of danger, three machine-gun positions were rushed and the crews taken prisoner before they could inflict many casualties on our troops.

Always under heavy fire, he directed them into positions which brought about a retirement of the enemy machine guns and enabled the advance to continue.

Forsyth's courage and coolness, combined with great power of initiative proved an invaluable incentive to all who were with him and he undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades.Forsyth is one of 70 New Zealanders buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, near Miraumont in France.

[9] King George V presented Forsyth's wife, Mary, with the VC in a ceremony that took place in late November 1918 at Buckingham Palace.