Pte 34608 Thomas Foster

• Age: 19
• From: Ormskirk, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 15th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Thomas Foster was born on the 20th March 1897 in Ormskirk and was the son of James Foster and his wife, Alice, (née Jackson) who were married on the 27th December 1886 at St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Ormskirk. James was a 24 year old labourer of Scarisbrick, hiss father, Thomas, was a labourer, whilst Alice was aged 26 also of Scarisbrick, her father, John, was also a labourer.

Thomas was baptised on the 28th April 1897 at Holy Trinity Church, Ashton-in-Makerfield, his father was a collier. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Halsall Lane, Aughton, Ormskirk. His father James is aged 39, born in Scarisbrick, and employed as a Wholesale Grocer’s carter, whilst his mother, Alice is aged 42 and born in Burscough, they have three children at the time of the Census, Alice aged 13, John aged 11 and Thomas aged 4.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Halsall Lane, Aughton, Ormskirk. Father, James, is aged 49, and is now a Corn Miller, whilst his mother, Alice, is aged 50. They have been married for twenty four years and have had four children. Alice who is aged 23, born 1888 has left the household. John is aged 21, born 1890 and occupation Grocers Assistant and Thomas aged 14, born 1897 a tailors errand boy. Both boys were born in Aughton.

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 34608 when he was killed in action on the 15th October 1916, aged 19, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

His death was reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser on 26th October 1916;

PROMISING AUGHTON SOLDIER KILLED.  

News has come that Private Thomas Foster, youngest son of Mr. James Foster, of Halsall-lane. Aughton, has fallen in action in France. Private Foster was a most promising youth, and joined the King's Liverpool Regiment early in the year having been in France about three months. Nineteen years of age, he was employed as a clerk at Liverpool before enlisting. He had been previously slightly wounded in the neck. Mr. Foster has another son in training. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His loss was commemorated with a service at Ormskirk Parish Church which was reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser on Thursday 02nd November 1916: 

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE PARISH CHURCH

Last evening another very impressive service was held at the Ormskirk Parish Church in memory of five local soldiers who have recently fallen in war, viz., Sergeant James Galland, Private William Griffiths, Private Peter Crompton, and Private Thomas Foster, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, and Sergeant Albert Fairhurst of the Canadian Rifles. There was a good congregation including a number of the relatives and friends of the deceased. The vicar, the Reverend C.E Haynes, officiated, assisted by the Rev. H Flenley, (curate), the former giving the most sympathetic address. Mr John Ball, the organist played " Blessed are the departed " and " O rest in the Lord " at the beginning and the close of the service. Appropriate hymns also being sung. About 100 members of the Ormskirk Volunteer Training Corps where present, in charge of Ms J.T. Whittle, the company commandant. 

His family paid tribute to Thomas in the Ormskirk Advertiser on Thursday 17th October 1918;

FOSTER - ln ever loving memory of our dearly-beloved youngest son, Private Thomas Foster, “Pals” K.L.R., killed in action October 15th, 1916, aged 19 years.

Only a little while, and then the dawning,

Of the glad day when shall meet again, 

And with him share the glory of that kingdom,

Where Christ doth reign. 

- Will never be forgotten by his sorrowing Father, Mother, and Sister, Halsall-lane, Aughton. 

Thomas is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Ormskirk Comrades Roll of Honour

Ormskirk War Memorial

Aughton Street Boys School Memorial

Aughton Civic Memorial.

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