Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arrived in Australia age 14 years

Son of Charles and Ann Foster; husband of Mary Foster of 29 Northwood Street, West Leederville, Western Australia. Father of Maureen Jane Scott Foster

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 22nd June.... Thomas Charles Foster was born in 1869 at Fulham, London, Middlesex, England.

Thomas Foster, aged 13, from Middlesex & his family were passengers on the Assaye which arrived in New South Wales on 3rd September, 1883.

Thomas Charles Foster, Engineer, aged 25, married Mary Scott, aged 20, on 14th October, 1895 at St. John’s Bishopthorpe, Glebe, Sydney, NSW. A son – Arthur Scott Foster was born on 13th April, 1900 at Albany, Western Australia & a daughter Maureen Jane Scott Foster was born in 1903 at Leederville, Western Australia.

Thomas Charles Foster enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 12th May, 1915 as a 45 year old, married. Fitter (with Western Australian Railways). He stated on his Attestation Papers that he had served with Railway Ambulance Corps in W. A. & NSW & with Medical Staff Corps in NSW for 8 years & 4 months but had left the State.

Private Thomas Charles Foster was posted to Australian Medical Corp for training on 12th May, 1915. He was transferred to Hospital Transport Corps on 19th May, 1915 & embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on 24th May, 1915 with the Army Medical Corps – Hospital Transports with the rank of Corporal.

Corporal Thomas Charles Foster was detailed for duty to Australia per Ballarat from Egypt on 4th July, 1915. He sailed from Suez per Ballarat & returned to Australia per Hospital Ship Ballarat, disembarking at Melbourne, Victoria on 6th August, 1915 as Staff.
Corporal Thomas Charles Foster re-embarked at Sydney on Transport A61 Kanowna on 22nd December, 1915 with 2nd Hospital Ship.

Corporal Thomas Charles Foster re-embarked at Fremantle, Western Australia on A7 Medic to rejoin his Unit on 18th January, 1916 as Acting Sergeant. He returned to Egypt on 21st February, 1916 from Australia with Medical Details.

Corporal Thomas Charles Foster was transferred to Miscellaneous Reinforcements in Camp at Egypt on 17th April, 1916 then transferred to 2nd Training Battalion in Egypt on 27th April, 1916 from A.M.C. (Army Medical Corps) Details.

A Telegram was received by Base Records, Melbourne, Victoria on 22nd June, 1916 stating that Corporal Foster had been reported ill wife anxious – please wire Colonel Battys, Library Perth.

Base Records replied stating that no report had been received at their Office & to forward any evidence.
Corporal Thomas Charles Foster died on 21st/22nd* June, 1916 at General Hospital, Tidworth, Wiltshire, England from Pneumonia. The Hospital Admissions form recorded he died on 21st June, 1916 having spent 9 days in Hospital with Double Pneumonia “a very active & septic case.”

**There is a discrepancy with the date of death – some forms in the Service Record file have date as 21st June, others have 22nd June. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website & the Australian War Memorial both have the date of death as 22nd June, 1916.

Corporal Thomas Charles Foster was buried on 24th June, 1916 in Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire, England – Plot number C. 170. He shares a Private Headstone with Private Lawrence Pearce (also of Australian Army Medical Corps), however his death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/d---f.html

Father of: -

Catherine Foster - born and died Forbes N.S.W. (1897 to 1898).

Ronald Charles Foster - born and died Perth W.A. (1898 - 1899)

Arthur Scott Foster - born 13th April 1900 Two Mile Work Shops, Albany W.A. died 1960 Mount Magnet W.A.

Maureen Jane Scott Foster - born 19th June 1903 Perth, W.A. died 1996 North Turramurra, N.S.W.

Brother of Nurse S390 - Unit A.A.N.S. Served France and England - Sister Edith Annie Foster - born 8th September 1874, 190 Sloane Street, Chelsea, England died 1949, Petersham, Dover Heights, N.S.W.

Uncle to Ernest Victor Foster – enlisted at age 18yrs 6 months (declared he was 21 at the time) -  A.I.F. Private 1902 - 57th Infantry Battalion -  born 6th July 1897 N.S.W died 9th March 1958 N.S.W.

Thomas Charles Foster’s Medals are held in custody of Mary Jane Bastalich (nee Foster), Derby, Western Australia.