FOSTER Harry

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral with the information: Pte. 3704 9/5 Pioneers Australian Imperial Forces.

Harry Foster was born at Webheath near Redditch in 1891, the son of George and Mary Ann Foster nee Martin. George was a house painter. The couple had 7 Children:-
George Foster born 1881.
Helen Foster born 1884.
Annie Foster born 1885.
Emma Foster born 1887.
Mary Elizabeth Foster born 1889.
Harry Foster born 1891.
Fred Foster born 1894.
The family resided at Park Cottages, Hewell, near Redditch.

Harry Foster enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 3rd January 1917 at Adelaide, South Australia. On his attestation paper he gave his place of birth as Birmingham, England, his age as 27 years, 1 month, his occupation as a painter and his next of kin as his mother, Mary Foster, Park Cottages, Hewell, Redditch, England. This was later amended to his wife, Mrs M.T. Foster, 38 Mount Pleasant, Redditch, Worcestershire. At the time of his attestation Harry was 5 feet 9½ inches tall, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He embarked at Adelaide on 10th February 1917, disembarking in Devonport on 2nd May 1917. Whilst in England he married Miriam Theresa Harman, spinster, age 34, on 29th November 1917 at Mount Carmel Church, Redditch. Less than 3 weeks later, on 18th December 1917, Harry left Southampton bound for the trenches in France. On the morning of 29th September 1918 he was proceeding to his allocated job when the party came under heavy shell fire. A large shell splinter hit Private Harry Foster in the back. His wound was dressed and he was taken to the American Aid Point at Hargicourt where he died upon admission.

His brother, Private Fred Foster, 966, 15th battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was killed in action on 23rd May 1916. He is buried in Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.

Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger, 19th October 1918:
News was received last week by Mr and Mrs Foster of Park Cottages, Hewell, that their son, Private Harry Foster, of the Australian Imperial Forces, died from wounds received in action on September 29th. Private Foster went out to Australia some years ago, with an older brother, but on the outbreak of war he responded to the call for men.