The Stories Behind the Stones

74266, Canadian Infantry

Harry was born in Leeds on 29 December, 1889. His father Richard was originally from Broughton, Lincolnshire, he moved to Leeds to marry his wife Margaret Ward, who was from the suburb of Rothwell. Richard was a labourer at the Iron Works, Margaret was a homemaker and the couple parented several children; James, John, Harry, Edwin, Richard, Jane, Eliza and George.

On the 1901 census, the family were living at an address known as 81 White Cottage, Osmondthorpe, Leeds. The older children had presumably left home with just James, John, Edwin, Harry & George still living at home.

In 1906, the family emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The 1911 Canadian census shows just Margaret, John, Edwin, Harry & George residing at 397 Weatherdon, Winnipeg. It is unkown where Harry’s father Richard was, but there is evidence he stayed in England and died there in 1921. A 21 year old Harry was working as a machinist.

A further 1916 census was taken in the province of Manitoba, this shows Margaret as head of the household, who usually lived with Harry who was away as a Soldier. Margaret and Harry lived at 411 Brandon Avenue, but the family lived next door to each other on the same street. At number 409 was Harry’s brother George, who was living with his wife Etta, a Nova Scotia native and their two children George and Mary. George Senior worked on the railways. Harrys older brother Edwin also resided at 411, he was also married to an English girl named Georgina whom emigrated in 1909, but they did not yet have any children.

On 15th March, 1915, a 26 year old Harry attested to the 28th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, which was an infantry battalion. Again, his occupation is shown as a wood machinist at this time. Service records state that Harry was 5ft 9 and a half, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.

Harry sailed with the 28th Battalion, C.E.F from Montreal on 29th May 1915 on the SS Northland (this ship was later called the Zeeland).

On 25th July 1915, perhaps inspired by his younger brother now being in France, Edwin also attested to the 90th Regiment, known as the “Winnipeg Rifles.” Edwin’s occupation at attestation was Locomotive Engineer.

Harry had spent 14 months in France when he became injured in August, 1916. He was most likely injured at the Somme, as the 28th battalion had fought there. On 5th August 1916, Harry received a gun shot wound to the right shoulder, this had settled in the axilla (armpit). On the 9th August, the shoulder was X-Rayed, it was found that Harry had multiple fractures, his wound was incised but part of the bullet was missing and never found. Harry was struggling with chest pains, his medical notes state that he had a history of pneumonia. On 23rd August, a further exploratory incision was made, but the fragment was still not found. By 26th August, Harry complained that his chest symptoms were getting much worse, a feeble pulse was recorded in his file. The 28th August noted a slight improvement in symptoms, but these were not maintained and Harry was put onto half hourly oxygen therapy.

At some point in August, the decision was made to transfer Harry to a war hospital in England for treatment, although it may have been clear at this point that he would not recover from his injuries. Heart failure is noted on 4th Septmeber, Harry was at Brook War Hospital, Woolwich, where he died of heart failure on 5th September, 1916 at 02:40.

Private Harry Foster is laid to rest in Hunslet (Old) Cemetery in Leeds.

As we know, Harry was born in Leeds, lived in Canada, died in London, but a “next of kin” is listed on his army documents as a Mrs Priestman, who lived at 2 Far Royds Terrace, Wortley, Leeds. It is assumed that Mrs Priestman liased with the organising of Harry being laid to rest in his home city.

Harry’s brother Edwin survived the war, he was promoted to Corporal just three weeks after his brother’s death and then to Searjent less than 3 months after that. He must have wondered the futility of it all. Edwin sailed back to Canada in May 1919. On the 1921 Canadian census, Edwin had returned to his work as a railway engineer, he and Georgina had a 6 year old daughter, Annie, this would indicate that Edwin had a young child when he went away to war. On the 1926 Prairie census, they had welcomed another daughter, Evaline, now aged 2.

“SLEEP ON DEAR SON IN A FAR OFF GRAVE WE WILL REMEMBER THEE”

Remember Him.