Name
Harry Foster
Circa 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/02/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18314
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA BRIQUE MILITARY CEMETERY NO.2
I. S. 25.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, We are not aware of any Charlton memorial
Pre War
Harry Foster was born around 1890 in Hitchin and christened on 17 September 1890. Henry George and Phoebe Ann Foster (née Titmuss) who married in Hitchin on 20 July 1889, however there are some discrepancies in ages in the following census information. Also, in the 1901 census George was named as Henry George - as he was in the marriage record - however birth locations of the children listed confirm that we are correct.
In 1891 the family were living in Charlton (near Hitchin). Present were both parents: George (31) and Phoebe (24), with Harry’s father working as a Coleman, but this is badly written. Their children were: Albert (8), George (7), Charles (5) and Harry at 8 months.
He attended Hitchin Boys British School.
In 1901 the family were still living in Charlton. Present were both parents (the father being written as Henry George), with Harry’s father working as an agricultural labourer. Of the above children Albert is missing. New siblings were Sidney (7), Lenard (5), John (3) and Richard (1).
By 1911 the family had moved to 52 Queen Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents, Henry George now recorded as a farming labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 21 years with 11 of whom 4 had died. The children now listed were George, Charley, Sidney, Harry - now 20 and a butcher’s labourer, John, Richard, and they are joined by Walter (7).
He married Alice Louisa Sole (b 3/3/1891) 1913. They had one child Harry Charles William Foster born 12 July 1916, after Harry’s death, and Christened on 3 September 1916 at St Saviour Church, Brixton Hill, when Alice was living at 14 Allington Street, Cornell Road, Brixton, London S10.
Sometime before his enlistment he worked for George Anderson a farmer at Charlton near Hitchin.
Officially Harry was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts. and resident of Charlton, Herts. when he enlisted in Bedford
Wartime Service
Harry was given the Regimental Number 18314. He was in the 8th Battalion of the Bedfords and was killed in action in Belgium. He was asleep in a trench when he was killed by a shell. He had only arrived two weeks earlier.
At the time of his death, the 8th Bedfords were in the 6th Division and on the afternoon of the 12th February 1916 heavy shelling with both smoke and gas began along the front which was to the right of the Moraldje Salient near Ypres. The attacks which followed were mainly aimed at Divisions nearby.
He must have first been reported as missing as his date of death was 13 February 1916, but the recorded notification of his death was 7 August 1916
He was buried in Plot 1, Row S, Grave 25 in La Brique Military Cemetery No. 2, St. Jan in Belgium. A private inscription on his headstone reads “Peace perfect Peace". The order for inscription was placed by his while living at Mid Village, Arlesey, Beds.
Additional Information
Some records have his service number as 18514.
After his death £2 14s 0d was authorised to go to his widow Mrs Alice Louisa Foster on 15 March 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £4 was authorised to be paid to him/her, on 3 September 1919.
His pension cards record his widow, as his dependant, living at 14 Allington Street, Cornell Road, Brixton, London S10 and their child Harry Charles William b 12 July 1916 (after his death). She was awarded a pension of 15s 0d a week from 4 September 1916.
At the time of his death his ·wife seems to have been living in Brixton although another probably later record shows her address as Mid Village, Arlesey in Bedfordshire. He enlisted in Charlton.
His older brother, George, died of wounds later in the war. Three other sons also served.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
