FOSTER, Wilfred Ernest

Wilfred Foster was the son of Francis and Clara Foster of 71 Gorge Road, Hurst Hill, Coseley. He volunteered for the South Staffords Territorials and joined the 1/6th Battalion. They were part of the 137th (Staffordshire) Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division, and went to the Western Front on the 5th March 1915. After serving in the Ypres sector for three months they were moved to Artois early in October to reinforce the units still fighting the Battle of Loos. They were given the difficult task of attacking the Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fosse 8 in front of which many other units had failed. It was a near impossible task. They attacked over open ground at 2 p.m. on the 13th October. It was nearly half a mile to the German wire and the enemy defence was tenacious. They attacked over open ground at 2 p.m. on the 13th October. It was nearly half a mile to the German wire and a third of the men were casualties, including Private Wilfred Foster. He was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Loos, Hurst Hill and Sedgley Memorials.