Pte 57756 John George Foster

• Age: 20
• From: Sunderland
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

John George Foster was born in 1897 in Sunderland and was baptised 15th April 1897 at St John, Sunderland. He was the son of John George and Margaret (nee Cavanagh) Foster, of 18 Vine St, East End, Sunderland, County Durham. Parents were married in 1893 in Sunderland registered as Forster.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at the multiple occupancy 26 Vine Street, Sunderland.

 His father John is not present, mother Margaret, is aged 27 and was born in Sunderland, she has three children Catherine aged 6, John aged 4,and  Joseph aged 2 who were all born in Sunderland. She also has a boarder Ellen Kavanagh aged 16 living at the address with the family.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 47 Vine Street, Sunderland.

His father, John George aged 42, born in Sunderland in 1869, his occupation is recorded as a dock labourer, whilst his mother, Margaret, is aged 37, born 1874 in Sunderland as were all their children. They have been married for eighteen years and have eight children. James aged 17, born 1894 is a dock labourer, Catherine aged 16, born 1895, John aged 14, born 1897, Joseph aged 12, born 1899, Benjamin aged 7, born 1904, Frederick aged 6, born 1905, William aged 4, born 1907 and Thomas aged 2, born 1907.   

John George enlisted in Sunderland and was formerly 15771, Army Cyclist Corps and following a transfer he was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57756 when he was killed in action on the 9^th April 1917 aged 20 during the Battle of Arras. 

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.  

John George's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France. 

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July). 

Sunderland Daily Echo 15th May 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mr Foster, of 18, Vine Street, has received an official intimation that her son, Pte. J. G. Foster, Liverpool Regiment, was killed action April last. Previous to enlisting Pte. Foster was employed with the Sunderland Shipbuilding Company, a rivet-header. He was 20 years of age.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Margaret

On the 1921 census a further brother George was born in 1912.

His mother died on the 4th April 1937 aged 63.

Sunderland Daily Echo 4th April 1938

FOSTER - In loving memory of my dear mother Margaret (formerly Maggie Kavanagh) who died on April 4, 1937, and our dear father John George.

- Ever remembered by their loving son Ben and daughter-in-law Margaret.

There is some confusion over service number, MIC, Roll, S/E and Pension are for 57786 - Service no. is 57756 on CWGC (who have been notified) 

We currently have no further information on John George Foster, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.