Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

 Son of George and Ann Foster of Hewell, Redditch, England

Husband of Miriam Theresa Kuck formerly Foster nee Harman of 38 Mount Pleasant, Redditch, Worcestshire, England

Harry and Miriam were married on 29 November 1917 in the Mount Carmel Church, Redditch, England. John Clement Fowler officiated

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Contributed by a Saint Ignatius student.

Harry Foster was a soldier in the First World War. He enlisted in Australia except he was born in Hewell, Redditch, England in 1889 with the exact date not found. He moved to Australia and decided to live in Kensington, South Australia. Harry Foster decided that he wanted to be a painter. He was an apprentice to a painter for 7 years while he was in England. After a long 7 years he became a painter before he went to the war. He might have decided to go to the war to paint about it because of his experience. Foster was 5 foot 9 inches tall, 128 pounds, had blue eyes and brown hair. He was married to Miriam Theresa with maiden surname of Harman. Miriam Theresa’s occupation was a dress maker. She was 33 years old at the time of when they married. They were married at Mount Carmel Church by John Clement Fowler on the 29th of November 1917. They were Roman Catholic. 

Harry Foster took an oath to the King on the 3rd of January 1917 as a private.  His first movement when Foster was in Adelaide he first embarked on 10th of Feburary 1917. He disembarked on Devonport in England on 2nd of May 1917 and trained for several months. He went to France in December and joined his unit on 28th of December 1917. He was in France at the 29th of Septeber 1918 where he was wounded in action. The party he was in was under heavy shell fire. Harry Foster was hit in the back by a large shell splinter. His wound was quickly dressed and he was brought back to the American Aid Post at Hargicourt. The next day on the 30th of September 1918 he died upon admission at Hargicourt.

A letter was sent back to his family bringing on the news about his death. His wife at the time Miriam Theresa received the letter as they didn’t have anyone else to give it to. As they didn’t have any children it meant that they were still early in their marriage and they would have been planning out their lives to have children later. This means that it was devastating news to Foster’s wife when he died. He was buried at Hargicourt British Cemetery 8.5 miles north west of Saint Quentin with his friends that had also died during the war. He was in the 5th Pioneer at the time. During the time of Harry Foster’s service he gained two medals. He received the British War Medal. He received a victory medal.