Private Alexander Foster

Private Alexander Foster

18th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Western Ontario Regiment)
Service No: 124310

352

1

4

0

106

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of John and Elizabeth Miller Foster of Muiryhall St, Coatbridge. His late father John was a Coal Merchant in Muiryhall St, Coatbridge. Alexander was the husband of the late Margaret Foster. They were married on the 26/07/1898. Alexander is listed as a widower on his Attestation papers. Alexander was a father according to his Memorial Scroll and the guardian of his child / children was Mrs Jessie McCall of 19 Campfield St, Falkirk. He left all his belongings and effects to his father whose address was then 19 Campfield St, Falkirk. From the 1891 Census - Address - 3 Muiryhall St, Coatbridge - John Foster aged 50, Elizabeth Foster aged 47, Alexander Foster aged 18, Matthew Foster aged 16, John Foster aged 13, Agnes Foster aged 10, David Foster aged 8, Mary Foster aged 2. From the 1901 Census - Address - 8 Alexander St, Coatbridge - Alexander Foster aged 27, Margaret Foster aged 25.

Born / Resided

Calderbank / 140 Rectory St, London, Ontario, Canada (Mrs J. Hannah's home), previously 41 Calder St, Whifflet, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 21/05/1917 in the trenches near Vimy, France

Enlisted

London, Ontario, Canada 30/10/1915

Employed

Grand Trunk Railway (previously employed with Mr Millar (grocer), Sunnyside Rd, Coatbridge).

Age

43 / DOB - 07/07/1873

Buried / Remembered

La Targette British Cemetery (I. B. 18), Neuville-St Vaast, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

La Targette British Cemetery, formerly known as Aux-Rietz Military Cemetery, was begun at the end of April 1917 and used by field ambulances and fighting units until September 1918. Nearly a third of the graves have an artillery connection. Sixteen graves were brought into the cemetery from the immediate neighbourhood after the Armistice and a further 26 sets of First World War remains were added during the Second World War. The cemetery contains 638 First World War burials, 41 of them unidentified. There are also three Second World War burials, two of which are unidentified.

Additional Information

Alexander's original Battalion the 70th embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. "Lapland" on the 26/04/1916 and disembarked in Liverpool on the 05/05/1916. Alexander was then transferred to the 39th Battalion on the 10/07/1916. On the 17/08/1916 Alexander was drafted to the 18th Battalion and on the 27/08/1916 he proceeded to join his unit in France on the 01/09/1916. The Battalion were part of the 4th Canadian Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division. SEE PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MAY 1917. The War Diary states : 11th - 20th / 21st May 1917 : "11th - During the whole tour considerable difficulty was experiences in bringing up rations owing to the enemy fire of Poison Gas and Tear Shells. Daily at dusk enemy shells, which made it necessary for Gas Respirators to be worn. Despite this Captain G.W.F. Hodgins never failed to deliver rations at Battalion H.Q. in MT. FORET QUARRIES. Lieut. A.A. McLean rendered valuable assistance by personally acting as guide from Railway forward. 6 Other Ranks admitted to hospital (sick). 12th - 3 Other Ranks “Wounded”. 8 Other Ranks admitted to hospital (sick). 22 Other Ranks arrived as reinforcements. 12th / 13th (Night) - During the night Brigade called for two parties to carry wire to the front line. Lieut’s G.E. Lucas and W.R. Wright being detailed to take charge of these parties. Lieut. G.E. Lucas completed his task with the loss of 4 Other Ranks “Wounded”. Lieut. W.R. Wright and party on returning was heavily shelled in MT. FORET ROAD, scattering the party, Lieut. W.R. Wright and Sgt. T. Clark [Clarke] being “Killed” and 6 Other Ranks “Wounded”. 13th - Battalion was relieved by 24th Battalion and moved back into Reserve Camp near NEUVILLE-ST-VAAST. Move completed successfully and without casualties. 14th - Bath and Pay Parades. 3 Other Ranks admitted hospital (sick). 15th - Morning Company and Platoon Training. Afternoon Recreational Training. 16th - A.M. Battalion Parade and Company and Platoon Drill. P.M. Recreational Training. 17th - A.M. Physical Training. P.M. Recreational Training. 48 Other Ranks rejoined the Battalion from C.E. Fatigue. 18th - Preparation for G.O.C.’s Inspection. 4 Other Ranks admitted to hospital (sick). 5 Other Ranks returned from hospital. 19th - Inspection of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade by General Sir Julian Byng, G.O.C. Canadian Corps. The G.O.C. expressed great surprise that, considering the heavy fighting and hardships passed through during the last month, it was possible for the men to turn out so clean and in such fine condition. 10 Other Ranks of the 18th Battalion received decoration of the Military Medal on this Parade. 5.00 p.m - The 18th Battalion relieved the 27th Battalion on the RIDGE (observation) LINE, with Battalion H.Q. at THELUS CAVE. For disposition see Map attached. 20th / 21st - Battalion working on completion of RIDGE LINE trench. Nothing unusual occurred. Battalion working on completion of RIDGE LINE trench. Nothing unusual occurred". Alexander was Killed in Action in the trenches near Vimy. He had been in France for about 9 months before he died. Alexander was a one-time member of Old Monkland St. James' Masonic Lodge. He left for Canada in 1910. La Targette British Cemetery was previous known as Aux Rietz Military Cemetery (see Death Register and CWGC Headstone Report). See photos for Alexander's Roll of Honour Scroll (now held in Airdrie Library), his name in the Canadian WW1 Book of Remembrance, his Death Register, his Canadian Burial Report x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his CWGC Headstone Report, La Targette British Cemetery, the Canadian Infantry Cap Badge, Alexander's Service Records x 25, Newspaper clippings x 6 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 2 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2) and another photo of Alexander's grave. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 30 FOR THE 4th CANADIAN BRIGADE WAR DIARY MAY 1917 and PHOTOS x 26 FOR THE 4th CANADIAN BRIGADE APPENDICES MAY 1917. For the History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" (Articles, War Diaries, and recognition to the Men of the "Fighting 18th") see here

Photos

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

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