Francis Joseph Foster
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Born 1899 in Kettering whilst the family were living there for a while at Burton Latimer. His Father Frederick Thomas was a railway wagon repairer who had been born in Newark. His mother Harriett was born in Grantham. Frederick and Harriet stayed at Kettering for 7 years before returning to Nottingham with their 5 children in 1911 when they lived at No 79 Cremorne Street in the Meadows area of Nottingham. Francis was still at school but one of his older brothers was also working on the railways by this time and another had gone to work at the colliery. At some point prior to 1918 his parents moved to Aston Villa, Burton Joyce. Francis' personal effects were returned to his family following his death and included several photos and a wallet as well as his personal shaving items.
Enlisting on 10 March 1917 at Nottingham he was initially sent to the 7th Training Reserve battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. He was posted to the West Yorkshire Regiment on 20 March 1918 leaving Folkestone for Boulogne and finally Etaples where he arrived 27 May 1918 moving to the Front 3 June 1918. He died of wounds after being gassed and is buried at Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery in the Pas de Calais region of France. He was eligible for the British and Victory medals
Death notice published 17th August 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- FOSTER. – Died from gas poisoning, August 11th, 1918, Pte. Francis Foster, West York Regt. Deeply mourned. – Mother, father, sister, and brothers and Cissy.” In memoriam published 11th August 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- FOSTER. – Died August 11th, 1918, in France, from poisonous gas, Francis Joseph Foster, 15/17th West Yorks., of Burton Joyce, Notts., aged 19 years. When alone in sorrow, bitter tears flow there stealeth a dream of days long ago, unknown to the world he stands by my side and whispers, “Dear mother, death cannot divide.” – From his broken-hearted mother, father, brothers, and sister.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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