Regiment: Royal Sussex, 2nd Battalion, 1st Division
Service No: G/6242
Date & place of birth: Jan- Mar 1882, Dunsfold
Date & place of death: 18 September 1916 (aged 34) near Cambrai
Private William Foster was one of the older Petworth men to die at the age of 34, though he was single and so left no children
Family background
William Foster was born in Dunsfold, son of Henry (Harry) and Charlotte Foster. At some point they moved to Petworth and at the time of William’s death the parents are said to be running the Queen’s Head in North Street, Petworth (like many Petworth pubs of the time no longer open.) But in the 1911 Census William is recorded as working as a quarryman for West Sussex County Council and living with his mother at No.2 Red Lion Yard; there is no trace of his father at that time.
Military service
Private Foster enlisted in Chichester. His battalion had been involved in the war from the start and in 1916 took part in the battles of Albert, Bazentin, Pozieres, Fleurs-Courcelette and Morval.
Death and commemoration
Private William Foster was killed in action near Cambrai on 18 September 1916. He is buried in the Bellicourt British Cemetery, F375.