Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Husband of Elizabeth Florence Foster nee Marks of Port Augusta, SA. Joseph and Elizabeth were married on the 7 August 1915 in the Methodist Chuch Port Augusta, SA.

Father of Joseph Foster, Daphne Angela Foster, Henry Malcolm Foster, Audrey Foster, Mabel Lillian Foster and Beryl Foster

At the time of death he was residing at Davenport, SA

Commenced return to Australia on 31 January 1918

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Joseph was the son of Joseph Charles FOSTER & Elizabeth SHERLOCK and was born on the 22nd of January 1876 in Tranmere, Birkenhead, England and baptized on the 20th of February.

His father was the son of Robert FOSTER & Mary Ann Bythelle SENIOR and was born on the 3rd of November 1846 in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales.
His mother was the daughter of Timothy SHERLOCK & Mary Ann LLOYD and was born on the 22nd of January 1854 in Lower Tranmere, Cheshire, England.

Joseph was the 3rd child born into this family of 14 children.

His father was an engine driver and they lived at 26 Queens Buildings in Tranmere, Birkenhead.
By 1890 the family had moved to 55 Gloucester Street, Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales and after leaving school Joseph began work as a coal miner.
Then aged just 14 years, Joseph gained employment with the Great Western Rail Company and was based at Aberdare Station.
His first job was as an engine cleaner from the 22nd of December 1890 until the 14th of March 1891 when he left voluntarily. After 12 months he returned and was re employed as an engine cleaner at Aberdare Station until his family moved back to Birkenhead in July 1893 and he was transferred to Birkenhead Station.

After 2 years he was promoted to a Shunting Fireman 3rd Class and then transferred to Wolverhampton Station in July 1896. On the 14th of November 1898 he requested to be transferred back to Birkenhead Station and in October the following year he gained his 1st Class Fireman Certificate.

Joseph resigned the following month and immigrated to the USA and then gained employment in Mexico as a Locomotive driver.

Joseph married Julie Noelie MAURIES on the 20th of July 1901 in Orizaba, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Mexico.
Julie was the daughter of Alcine Benjamin MAURIES & Antoinette MERLAS and was born on the 11th of September 1883 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

They welcomed their first child; Yvonne Elizabeth, on the 3rd of June 1902, followed by Edward Charles on the 11th of May 1903.

Ernest Lloyd John was then born on the 30th of December 1904 and then Alicia Margarita Paulina on the 29th of December 1906.

Sadly Julia died on the 14th of December 1908 in Mexico City and Joseph took his four children back to his parents in Birkenhead and he continued to work in Mexico and then Canada.

He returned to England a few years later and then on the 26th of March 1913 Joseph embarked from Liverpool on board the Irishman, disembarking in Sydney, Australia on the 23rd of May 1913. He did not bring his children with him; they stayed in England with their paternal grandparents.

By 1915 he had moved to Pt Augusta and employed as an engine driver.

Joseph married Elizabeth Florence MARKS on the 7th of August 1915 in the Methodist Church, Pt Augusta.
Elizabeth was the daughter of August Gustave MARKS & Alice Maud WILLOUGHBY and was born on the 6th of October 1888 in Pt Augusta.

Her brother William August, had enlisted into the 12th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement (3727) the week prior to their marriage. He embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT RMS Malwa on the 2nd of December 1915.

Her brother Henry Edward (MM), enlisted into the 48th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements on the 12th of April 1916 (1957)

Joseph and Elizabeth welcomed their first child; Henry Malcolm on the 31st of April 1916 and then 2 months later Elizabeth’s brother Henry embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on the 13 of July.
Then Elizabeth’s other brother; Ernest, aged only 16, lied about his age and enlisted into the AIF on the 18th of July in the same year and was posted to the 43rd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements (2119). He embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A68 Anchises on the 28th of August 1916.

At the age of 41, Joseph enlisted into the AIF on the 4th of April 1917 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 1781 and posted to the 5th Section Railway Unit in Broadmeadows Camp, Victoria and promoted to Sergeant.

Joseph embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on the 11th of May 1917 and proceeded to England.
The following month Elizabeth’s brother Ernest was Killed in Action in Ypres, aged just 17, he has no known grave.

Joseph served in Belgium & France before becoming ill with Influenza and Bronchitis.

His second child; Audrey, was born on the 31st of October 1917 whilst he was in Belgium.

Joseph embarked for Australia on the 31st of January 1918 on board HMAT Osterley, disembarking in Adelaide on the 13th of April and meeting his baby daughter for the first time.
In October of the same year Joseph purchased 2 house allotments in Pt Augusta South (111 & 112) and they lived at 7 Davenport Street, Pt Augusta Extension and was employed as an Engine Driver.

Joseph and Elizabeth welcomed their next child; Mabel Lilian FOSTER, on the 7th of June 1919, but sadly, she only lived for 8 days and they buried her in the Pt Augusta Cemetery; Unleased, Row 45, Plot 16.

Joseph was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 14th of June 1918 and awarded the British War and Victory medal.

On the 2nd of September 1919 Joseph’s four children arrived in Adelaide from England on board the Orsova and went to live with Joseph and Elizabeth in Pt Augusta.

Joseph and Elizabeth then welcomed another child; Joseph, on the 31st of December 1920, but sadly, he only lived for 2 hours and they buried him in the Pt Augusta Cemetery; Unleased, Row 45, Plot 16, with their other infant.

They then welcomed another child; Dorothy Angela, on the 21st of November 1922, followed by Beryl Rose, on the 2nd of March 1926.

After this Joseph gained employment as a Fitters helper at the Commonwealth Railways Workshops in Pt Augusta.
Joseph was a member of the Pt Augusta RSL Sub-Branch and took a keen interest in the affairs of the Methodist Church and Sunday school. He was also a member of the R.A.O.B. Lodge and a councillor for Davenport.

Joseph died suddenly on Monday morning, the 11th of March 1929 at the Commonwealth Railways Workshops in Pt Augusta.
Joseph was at the workshops waiting for the 7.30 am whistle to summon him to work, when some of his work mates noticed that he was ill and rushed to his assistance. Mr. Mosely arrived just in time to catch Joseph as he was falling and death occurred a few minutes later.
His son, Edward, a boilermaker, was notified and hurried to his fathers side, but he arrived too late to speak to him.

His funeral took place the following day, on Tuesday afternoon, when the service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. A. E. Jones and Mr. A. McConnal (R.A.O.B. Lodge).
Representatives of the Returned Soldiers League placed a wreath on his grave and acted as pall hearers, two of whom served in the same battalion as Joseph.
His Worship the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and representatives of the Council also attended and paid a last tribute of respect.

He is buried in the Pt Augusta Cemetery; Un-Leased, Block 82, Plot 1.

Joseph’s probate was worth £1, 035

Elizabeth never remarried and remained in Pt Augusta for most of her life.

Military

At the age of 41, Joseph enlisted into the AIF on the 4th of April 1917 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 1781 and posted to the 5th Section Railway Unit in Broadmeadows Camp, Victoria and promoted to Sergeant.
He listed his wife, of Pt Augusta as his next of kin.

This unit was then redesignated as the 2nd Australian Light Railway Operating Company and consisted of 3 officers and 266 other ranks.

Joseph and his Company embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on the 11th of May 1917 and proceeded to England via Fremantle, Mauritius, Durban, Capetown, and Sierra Leone.

They arrived in Davenport on the 19th of July, disembarking the following day and entrained to Bordan Camp, where the tents and quarters were located in St Lucia Barracks.

They were then put in isolation for the next month due to the contagious diseases that were on board their transport ship.
Their training comprised of gas, company and musketry drill and their instructors were the Royal Engineers.

On the 28th of August they were inspected by the King & Queen and her Royal Highness, Princess Mary and the following day the Company changed names to the 16th Light Railway Operating Company.

They were then granted a few days leave before leaving camp at 8am on the 5th of September, entrained to Southampton and embarked for Le Havre, France and at 6am the following day, they disembarked and marched into No.1 Camp.

Five days later they left their camp and after a twenty four hour journey they arrived in Poperinghe, Belgium.

20.9.17 big offensive on Ypres – in charge of the the trains bringing the wounded
Many of the railway lines were blown up by the enemy, stationed at various sections
October - Ellarsyde, Belgium – weather – cold with heavy rain and numerous derailments due to the bad roads
Mid October – very wet and muddy
20.10.17 moved to Vauxhall, Vorrmezele and spent long hours over the next few days moving material, guns and ammunition to forward positions.
November – same weather and employment - Heavily shelled

On the 2nd of December, while they were here, Joseph became ill with Influenza and was admitted into the 49th Field Ambulance and then to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station at Outtersteene.
Three days later he was admitted into the 8th Stationary Hospital in Wimereux.
On the 10th of December Joseph was invalided back to England on board HS St Denis and admitted into the Royal Herbert Hospital in Woolwich the following day, with Bronchitis.

After ten days here he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield on the 21st, where he spent Christmas Day 1917.
Joseph recuperated and on the 28th he was discharged from hospital and granted 2 weeks furlough before reporting to the 2nd Command Depot in Weymouth on the 11th of January.

Joseph suffered from Migraines and debility and was recommended for return to Australia.

Joseph embarked for Australia on the 31st of January 1918 on board HMAT Osterley, disembarking in Adelaide on the 13th of April.

Joseph was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 14th of June 1918 and awarded the British War and Victory medal.