| Foster | W L | | Major | He was born 2 December 1874, at Great Malvern, son of the Reverend Henry Foster, of Malvern College, and Mrs Henry Foster, and was a member of the well-known family of Worcestershire cricketers. He was educated at Malvern College, and joined the Royal Artillery in November 1894. He served in the South African War, 1899 to 1902, and was in the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein, and the Relief of Kimberley; operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); operations in Cape Colony, February to April 1901; operations in Orange River Colony and the Transvaal, May 1901 to May 1902. He received the Queen's Medal with four clasps; the King's Medal with two clasps, and was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]. He served as a Special Service Officer on the Staff in the Somaliland Campaign of 1902-3; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 7 August 1903, and 2 September 1904]; received the Medal, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 7 August 1903]: "Captain Wilfrid Lionel Foster, Royal Artillery. In recognition of services with the Boer Contingent during the recent operations in Somaliland". He retired from the Army to the Reserve of Officers in 1908, and was promoted Major, Reserve of Officers, RH and RFA, 6 May 1915. He was created a CBE in 1919. Major Foster, with his brother H K, won the Public School Racquets in 1892 and the Racquets Amateur Doubles Championship in 1898; also the latter again in 1907 with his brother B S. He was a member of the Corinthian Football Club. As a cricketer he was a really great batsman, and with his brothers H K and R E was responsible for raising Worcestershire to the position of a first-class county. Major Foster married in London, in October 1901, Evelyn Mary Cammell, daughter of Bernard E Cammell, of Guildford. and they had two daughters, Nancy and Molly, and one son, Wilfrid, born in July 1915.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Artillery |
