Jesse Alfred Foster
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
He was the son of Henry Samuel a general labourer/colliery blacksmith and Sarah Emma Foster née Morris and the brother of John Henry (killed in action 23/10/1918) and Walter Stanley Foster.
His father Henry Samuel was born in 1873 at Oxton, Nottinghamshire, his mother Sarah Emma Moris was born in 1872 at Darnall, Sheffield, they were married in 1896 their marriage was recorded in the Bingham registration district In 1901, the family lived at Attercliffe, Sheffield but by 1911, had moved to Albert Avenue, Jacksdale, Nottinghamshire.
In the 1911 census the family are shown as Henry Samuel Foster 37 yrs a colliery blacksmith he is living with his wife Sarah Emma Foster 38 yrs and their children, John Henry Foster 14 yrs an apprentice fitter, Jesse Alfred 10 yrs and Walter Stanley 3 yrs of age.
Henry Samuel Foster died in 1946 and Sarah Emma in 1948. They are both buried in the family plot at St Mary’s along with Jesse.
Jesse Foster was placed in the Army Reserve 16/9/1916 and transferred to the RNVR for the Royal Naval Division 11/7/1917. After mobilisation, he was posted to the 4th Reserve Battalion 13/7/1917. He had lied about his date of birth (citing 16/9/1898 upon enlistment). He was sent home and demobilised 13/12/1917 after his mis-statement was discovered. He died of pneumonia two weeks later. (Source Jesse Foster's RND record TNA ADM 339/1/1/13077)
He is buried in St Mary's churchyard, Westwood
Research by Peter Gillings has established that the link between J Foster and the Suffolk Regiment on St Mary's Church memorial is incorrect.
His brother Private John Henry Foster originally enlisted in 1901 at Sheffield into the King's Royal Rifle Corps, signing on for 8 years with the colours and 4 years in the reserves. After his service he emigrated to Australia. He enlisted at Liverpool, New South Walter, on 27th October 1914 giving his home town as Sydney, he was a labourer and was 32 yrs of age and single. Posted to the 13th battalion Australian Infantry he embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT A38 Ulysses on 22nd December 1914 where they travelled to Egypt. He embarked from Alexandria on 12th April 1915 bound for Gallipoli. He was promoted to acting corporal on 3rd May 1915 and promoted to Corporal on 11th June 1915. He was killed in action on 28th August 1915, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey.
Photo of Jesse Alfred Foster
St_Mary's,_Westwood courtesy of David Lally