Born: 1893, Worksop
Died: 2 June 1917
Buried: Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery
Address: 16 Lorne Street, Valley Road, Shipley
Parents: Robert & Elizabeth Ann
Spouse: Emma E
Siblings: Annie, Francis, Edith, Robert, Edward, Elsie, Elizabeth
Occupation: Boatman
Organisations/clubs: Shipley Celtics FC
Military
Rank: Gunner
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: St Paul’s, Shipley
Children: 2
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
John Leonard Foster
Although referred to in the report of
his death as John Willie, in the
CWWG records and census returns
he is given as John Leonard.
In 1911 he was living with his
parents and seven siblings at 3
Wharf Street, Shipley. A Worksop
family they appear to have moved
to Shipley around 1897.
On 31 August 1917, the Shipley
Times & Express reported:
Mrs Foster, wife of Gunner John
Willie Foster, aged 24, of 16 Lorne
Street, Valley Road, Shipley, has
received word that her husband was
killed on June 2nd, 1917.
Gunner Foster, who was in the
RFA, leaves a widow and
two young children
He was a Shipley man
and the son of Mr Robert
Foster, boat builder,
Shipley. Prior to joining
the army in March 1915,
he worked with his father.
He went to France the
Christmas of the same
year and has never been
home on leave.
Foster was a scholar at the Shipley
Parish Church Day Schools and
played football with the Shipley
Celtic AFC. He was held in high
respect in the district.
Writing to the widow,
Major Victor Holliday,
RFA, says: “You will have
by this time heard from
the war office the sad
news about your husband
so I am just writing to say
how deeply sorry we all
are and to offer you our
sincere sympathy in your
great loss.
“Your husband had been
in our battery almost the whole
time he had been in the brigade and
I always looked upon him as one of
the steadiest and most reliable men
I had and a harder worker I never
knew.
“He met his death while the battery
was being heavily shelled and I am
glad to say he suffered no pain. He
was buried by the chaplain close by
and though I may not mention any
names in this letter, I am certain
some of his comrades will call
upon you when they are home and
then they can tell you more than I
am allowed to write.
“We shall have a cross put on the
grave with his name and regiment
on. One of his comrades is
forwarding to you the few little
effects that were in his pockets. I
hope you will accept my deepest
sympathy.”
