FOSTER, John Askin
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Campbell Town, Northern Midlands, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Grammar School, Launceston; Hutchins School, Hobart, Tasmania |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, Square Wood, Chinolles, 23 August 1918, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie, France Plot VII, Row C, Grave No. 10, Harbonnieres, France |
| Memorials: | Campbell Town Roll of Honour, Campbell Town St. Luke's Church War Memorial, Campbell Town St. Luke's Church War Shrine, Campbell Town War Memorial, Launceston Church Grammar School WW1 Honour Board, Lindisfarne Officers of the 12th Battalion Pictorial Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Hobart | |
| 1 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 16 Oct 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Third Ypres, Powers of leadership and devotion to duty while in charge of a Company. (East of Ypres) | |
| 7 Dec 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 23 Aug 1918: | Involvement Major, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 12th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Major awm_died_date: 1918-08-23 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From
Sue GuinanTasmania – The Great War 1914-1918
November 10 ·
FOSTER, JOHN ASKIN.
Major John Askin Foster was a lieutenant in the 92nd Infantry, and joined the12th Battalion A.I.F., when it was formed at Brightoncamp. He left as a second-lieutenant. He was present at the landing in Gallipoli,where he was wounded, and at Pozieres and Bullecourt,where he was again wounded in each engagement. He was anold scholar of the Launceston Grammar School and Hutchins School, Hobart. He is a brother of LieutenantFrancis Foster,late adjutant of Claremont camp, who is now at thefront, and his father is Major Henry Foster,of the 92nd Infantry, who was major and second in command of the 20th Battalion, A.I.F., andfought on Gallipoli.
A stained-glass window, which is to beplaced in the Church of St. LukeH15842 Campbell Town, as amemorial to the late Major John Askin Foster,of the 12th Battalion, A.I.F., is being exhibited in a well-known London gallery this week, and has aroused considerableinterest and admiration among Australian circles InLondon.
The artist is Sir Arild Rosenkrants whose finework is in many English churches up and down thecountry, and who has already made a stained-glass windowfor St. Luke's, Campbell Town. The window bears the followinginscription at the base: To the Glory of God and in loving memoryof Major John Askin Foster of Merton Vale, 12th Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces, killed In action whilst leading his men to victory. August 23,1918. Aged 28 years. Your knightly virtue proved. Your memory hallowed in theland you loved.
Major HenryFoster of Merton Vale Campbell Town has received wordfrom the Defence Department that his son, Major John A. Foster, was killed in action in France on August 25. The deceased left Tasmania with the first contingent, four years ago, as a lieutenant,and for his bravery and sterling qualities as a soldier earned promotion to the rank of major in the Australian forces. He had been wounded on three previousoccasions receiving a severe wound in the forearm at the landing of Gallipoli and on two other occasions in France.
Major Henry Foster, father of the deceased, also saw service on Gallipoli, and his eldest son, Lieutenant Francis Foster, is at present serving withthe Australian Army on the Western front. It is understood that Major John A. Foster had the opportunity to takesix months' furlough but refused to accept it statinghis intention to stick it out till the last. The Mercury 6th September 1918
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