Edward Foster was born in Tooting Grove, Streatham, London, on 4th February 1886 he was a South Londoner, born and bred. Sometime in his earlier years he grew to just over six feet tall and weighed twenty odd stone, this earned him the nickname of Tiny’. After a rudimentary local education at Tooting Graveny School, the local elementary school. He left school at age 14 and was employed as a dustman by Wandsworth Borough Council. Following the outbreak of the Great War he responded to the call and volunteered for the 13th Service Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment composed almost entirely of local men. The Battalion soon became known as the “Wandsworth Regulars’, and “Tiny’ Foster, quickly became a familiar and, no doubt respected, member of the battalion. After training in Southern England, the 13th East Surreys arrived in France on 3rd June 1916, and went into the trenches opposite Lens, north of Albert. Later, the battalion moved to the Somme Valley and was in the front line near Bouchavesnes, when the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line commenced in the Spring of1917.
Foster was 31 years old, and a corporal in the 13th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment when on 24th April 1917, during the capture of Villers Plouich, in front of the Hindenburg Line, Tiny’ won his Victoria Cross. It was gazetted in the London Gazette on 27th June 1917, his Citation reads:- “For most conspicuous bravery and initiative. During an attack the advance was held up in a portion of a village by two enemy machine guns which were entrenched and strongly covered by wire entanglements. Corporal Foster, who was in charge of two Lewis guns, succeeded in entering the trench and engaging the enemy guns. One of the Lewis guns was lost, but Corporal Foster with reckless courage, rushed forward and bombed the enemy, thereby recovering the gun. Then getting his two guns into action, he killed the enemy gun team and captured their guns, thereby enabling the advance to continue successfully”.
Edward Foster was initiated in the Sir M. Wardhough Lodge, No. 593, his initiation is recorded in the Winter 1919 R.A.O.B. Quarterly Journal in the following manner:- On August 20th this Lodge was greatly honoured, by having the opportunity of initiating as a brother of the Order, Corporal Edward Foster, V.C., M.M., East Surrey Regiment who has been staying in Hanley with relatives.
If you wish to read the full story please click on this link No 34 Victory Cross Winners Vol 1