E.+W.+FOSTER

Foster, Ernald William, Acting Lance Corporal, C/6180, 18th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps Born Stafford Enlisted Derby Killed in action 24th August 1918 aged 26 Son of the late William and Esther Foster; nephew of Sarah Blay, of 94, Curzon St., Derby. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, XXV, A, 21

1911 Census: Ernald William Foster, aged 19 and born in Marchington Woodlands, Staffordshire, was employed as a tailor's apprentice. He resided at 94, Curzon Street, Derby, the home of his widowed aunt, Sarah Blay, the proprietoress of a tailoring business.

Service record: Ernald William Foster enlisted on the 3rd July 1915, giving his age as 23 years and 8 months old, his occupation as tailor and his home address as 53, Holt Street, Derby. He arrived in France on the 2nd May 1916 and served continuously until being taken ill with scabies, which then developed into impetigo, on the 15th February 1917. After treatment in hospital he rejoined his unit on the 19th April 1917 and was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 30th August. He was then granted leave to England from the 4th until the 18th November. On the 25th March 1918, he received a gunshot wound to the nose, and was treated in hospital in France until the 10th April. He was killed in action on the 24th August 1918.

There is a private memorial commemorating Ernald William Foster also located in St. Werburgh's Church.

