FOSTER, George
| Service Number: | 1267 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 September 1914, Morphettville, SA |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | New Southgate, London, England, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Stepney, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Public Elementary School, London, England |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Guedecourt, near Bapaume, France, 15 January 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
AIF Burial Ground, Grass Lane, Flers, France Plot 1, Row A, Grave 13 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, St Peters Heroes War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1267, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Morphettville, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1267, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1267, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1 | |
| 28 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1267, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), ANZAC / Gallipoli, Gunshot wound to the left loin | |
| 15 Jan 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1267, 48th Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1267 awm_unit: 48 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-01-15 |
Help us honour George Foster's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Edward and Emily Foster; husband of Julia E. Foster, of 54, Nelson St., St. Peter's, Stepney, Adelaide, South Australia.
GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN
Biography contributed by St Ignatius' College
George Foster was born in 1980 in New Southgate, London, England. George Foster had a mother called Emily Foster and a father called Edward Foster. Growing up, George Foster educated at a public elementary school in London.
George Foster migrated to Australia at the age of 19. He enlisted on the 12th of September 1914 in Morphettville at the age of 24.
After training, he was sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign and was wounded during battle on the 30th of April 1915. This was a gunshot wound to his left loin in Cape Helles. His injury was most likely caused by a sniper's shot as shown in the war diary. After this injury, he was transferred by a convoy ship to England, where he was treated for his wounds on the 15th of May 1915.
When he returned to his unit he was promoted to the rank of sergeant on the 18th September 1915. He was transferred to the 48th Battalion in early March.
George became ill and was sent to hospital 11th May 1916 and diagnosed with an inguinal injury, likely related to his wounding at Gallipoli
After treatment and rest George marched out to his unit in France September 1916. Tragically while fighting at Guedecourt near Bapaume, an artillery shell killed him on the 15th of January 1917.
After the war, his wife was given a letter of his death and the possessions he took to war. He is buried near in France at the AIF Burial Ground, Grass Lane, Flers, Plot 1, Row A, Grave 13. He is commemorated at the Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, and St Peter's Heroes War Memorial.
Bibliography
Australian Imperial Force Project. (n.d.) George Foster. Available at: https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=102022&printFormat=print (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (n.d.) George Foster. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/182343 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
National Archives of Australia. (n.d.) Service Records Listing. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/ItemsListing.aspx (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Australian War Memorial. (n.d.) Search Results for “George Foster 1267”. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search?query=george+foster+1267 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Books on War Australia. (n.d.) The 48th Battalion AIF in the Great War. Available at: https://booksonwaraustralia.com/battalion-histories/617-the-48th-battalion-aif-in-the-great-war-.html (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Australian War Memorial. (n.d.) Collection Item U51488. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51488 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Australian War Memorial. (n.d.) Collection Item U51456. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51456 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (n.d.) 40th Battalion Unit Members. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/40/people (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Australian Army. (n.d.) About Us – Ranks. Available at: https://www.army.gov.au/about-us/ranks (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Australian War Memorial. (n.d.) Photograph C1338583. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. (n.d.) Casualty Details – George Foster. Available at: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/264078/george-foster/ (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (n.d.) AIF Burial Ground, Grass Lane, Flers. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/cemeteries/59 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (n.d.) Adelaide National War Memorial. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/48 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (n.d.) Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/1797 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Virtual War Memorial Australia. (n.d.) Bordertown War Memorial. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/860 (Accessed: 10 April 2025).
Click images to start slideshow.