Forbes
was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland 0n 3rd January 1946.
He enlisted directly
into the Parachute Regiment, joining the Recruit Company on 5th September
1968. After training during which he became Champion Recruit of his intake,
he was posted to the 2nd Battalion.
His first overseas
service was in Anguilla, in the Leeward Islands. He then served tours of
duty in Northern Ireland, before taking part in a NATO exercise in Denmark
in 1972, which was at that time the largest Airborne drop since the Second
World War.
He was then selected
for a Jungle Warfare Training Course in Malaya, starting in January 1973, in
advance of the arrival in that area of the 2nd Battalion.
In February 1973 he
volunteered for the selection course for a Specialist Unit and did
subsequent SAS training, before being seconded to 14 Intelligence where he
served for a further two years. He ended his service in 1973.
