Sep 2, 1894

Born in Manchester, England

Jan 10, 1915

Shown on the payroll of the 46^th Durham Regiment, Canadian Militia

Feb 18, 1915

Attested into the 39^th Battalion CEF in Port Hope, Ontario 

Ø      Number 412043

Ø      Next of kin given as Mary Coralla, sister, Manchester, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to “B” Company 

The battalion trained in the Belleville, Ontario area

Jun 17, 1915

Embarked the SS Missanabie in Montreal, Quebec

Jul 3, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and proceeded to Shorncliffe and then on to Lydd to continue training

Jul 9, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Military Convalescent Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Scabies

Jul 22, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 7, 1915

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 2 for an unspecified offence

Sep 24, 1915

The 39^th Battalion moved to West Sandling to continue training

Nov 9, 1915

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Nov 10, 1915

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 268 reinforcements from England and (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion.  He joined the battalion at the front a short time later

Apr 8, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Sprained Left Ankle and Thumb

Apr 14, 1916

Transferred to the No. 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Apr 15, 1916

Transferred to the No. 15 CCS

Apr 18, 1916

Discharged from the CCS and rejoined the 21^st Battalion

Sep 15, 1916

During the battalion’s attack on a German strong point in a sugar refinery near Courcelette, France, Private Foster was killed and buried in a temporary grave in a nearby field.  When the war ended, the Imperial War Graves Commission could not locate his grave and he was subsequently listed on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France as one of over 11,000 Canadians who were killed in France and have no known grave.

Following the war the 1914-15 Star (shown below), British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his brother, Edward Foster, 7 Croft St., Newton Heath, Manchester, England 

There was no Memorial Cross issued

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