Pte
Edward Joseph Foster
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1894 |
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Place of birth: Queenstown, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 289 |
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Enlistment date: 12/01/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 43rd Bn. (The Hindmarsh Regiment) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Hill 40, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Bay 27 stone B |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Edward Joseph Foster was part of the 43th Battalion Australian Infantry Hindmarch Regiment (11th Australian Brigade, 3th Australian Division). Before enlisting, the 23 year old Edward Joseph worked as labourer in Queenstown, Adelaide, South Australia. He served together in the same battalion as his older brother Thomas.
On the 4th October, the 43th Bn. Australian Infantry took part in the Battle of Broodseinde. The 11th Australian Brigade divided the task of the attack, where the 43th Bn. A.I.F. was responsible for the first wave. The 43th Battalion was to capture the line until Alma (D.22.c.20.40). It met its objective at 6.20am, after which it was immediately consolidated. However, the battalion suffered heavy losses before meeting its objective on Hill 40. The 42th battalion was to leapfrog through the 43th battalion. As one company missed its barrage, men from the 43th battalion joined. The second objective was reached fairly easy at 7.25 am.
According to his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file, Private Foster was killed by the concussion of a shell. He was buried where he fell near Hill 40 (Zonnebeke 28 NE.1 – D21 b c d). His body wasn’t retrieved or identified after the war. He is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ypres. His brother Thomas was wounded in the same battle and died in a dressing station the next day. A third brother John Foster, 48th Bn. A.I.F. survived the war and returned home to Australia during 1919, as did a fourth brother, George Foster from the 32nd Bn. A.I.F.
On the 4th October, the 43th Bn. Australian Infantry took part in the Battle of Broodseinde. The 11th Australian Brigade divided the task of the attack, where the 43th Bn. A.I.F. was responsible for the first wave. The 43th Battalion was to capture the line until Alma (D.22.c.20.40). It met its objective at 6.20am, after which it was immediately consolidated. However, the battalion suffered heavy losses before meeting its objective on Hill 40. The 42th battalion was to leapfrog through the 43th battalion. As one company missed its barrage, men from the 43th battalion joined. The second objective was reached fairly easy at 7.25 am.
According to his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file, Private Foster was killed by the concussion of a shell. He was buried where he fell near Hill 40 (Zonnebeke 28 NE.1 – D21 b c d). His body wasn’t retrieved or identified after the war. He is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ypres. His brother Thomas was wounded in the same battle and died in a dressing station the next day. A third brother John Foster, 48th Bn. A.I.F. survived the war and returned home to Australia during 1919, as did a fourth brother, George Foster from the 32nd Bn. A.I.F.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Thomas Foster
Brother |
Sources 7
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"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 98-99 Sources used |
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=101987 Sources used |
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AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=Foster+Edward+Joseph&people_service_number=289&people_unit= Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/923569/EDWARD%20JOSEPH%20FOSTER/ Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4024536 Sources used |
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The Long long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/3rd-australian-division/ Sources used |
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War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1344151 Sources used |