Harold Foster

Harold was born on 24th November 1898 at Mapperley and was the son of Thomas a mill hand and Fanny Foster née Lucas at 527 Woodborough Road Nottingham. His father Thomas was born in 1865 at Nottingham and his mother Fanny Lucas was born in 1865 also in Nottingham, they were married in Nottingham in 1885 and went on to have the following children, John b1887 Arnold, Caroline b1889 Arnold, Bertram b1892 Arnold, James Sherwood b1894 Arnold, David b1895 Arnold, Harold b1898 Mapperley, Fanny Elizabeth b1903 Mapperley and Dorothy b1905 Mapperley. In the 1911 census the family are living at 20 Coburg Road, Mapperley and were shown as Thomas 46 yrs a mill hand, he is living with his wife Fanny 46 yrs and their children, Bertram 19 yrs a telephone repairer, James Sherwood 17 yrs a mill hand, David 6 yrs a printer, Harold 12 yrs a scholar, Fanny 8 yrs and Dorothy 6yrs.

Private Harold Foster, attested on 22nd November 1916, posted to the reserves he was mobilised on 24th February 1917 at Nottingham. Initially serving with the service number 79084 in the Leicestershire Regiment. he was transferred to the East Yorkshire Regiment on 22nd September 1917. He landed in France on 16th April 1918 and on 27th May 1918 was reported as missing in action. He had been captured and was a prisoner of war. He died of wounds – he had been wounded by a hand grenade – in German hands on 24th July 1918. He is buried in St. Erme Communal Cemetery Extension.

Three of his brother also served in the Great War, James Sherwood Foster enlisted on 10th December 1915 and served with the Sherwood Foresters Regiment, he saw service overseas and was discharged from the Army on 24th December 1918 no longer physically fit, he was awarded a Silver War Badge no B66021. David Foster enlisted on 31st March 1915 at Nottingham, he was 20 yrs and 1 month old, he was a printer. He served with the Sherwood Foresters Regiment and landed in France on 1st December 1916. Promoted to Lance Corporal on 8th September 1916 He was serving with the Labour Corps when he was demobilised on 26th February 1919. John Foster had enlisted on 29th December 1903 , he was 18 yrs and 11 months of age, he served as a gunner with the Royal Field Artillery and saw service abroad, he was discharged from the Army on 19th June 1919. Obituary published 28th January 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “FOSTER. – Reported missing, and reported prisoner of war, now reported killed in Germany July 24th, 1918, Pte. Harold Foster, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Foster, 527 Woodborough-road, Mapperley, also dearly beloved brother of Mrs. Roebuck, Bennett-street, Mapperley. Sadly missed. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. – From his loving sister Carrie, Jack and children, also four other brothers serving.” In memoriam published 24th July 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “FOSTER. – In loving memory of our dear son, Pte. Harold Foster, died of wounds, in Germany, July 24th, 1918, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Foster, 527 Woodborough-road, Nottingham. At the beautiful gates he will meet us, with the same sweet loving smile, for we only parted, dear one, for a little while. – From his loving mother and father, brothers and sisters and Elsa.” Above obituary and in memoriam notices are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918