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25001 Sapper Frederick G. Foster
Royal Engineers

by
Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis ©2008

Frederick Foster was a Regular Army soldier at the time of the outbreak of the Great War of 1914-1918. He was assigned to the 3rd Field Squadron, Royal Engineers with the 3rd Cavalry Division, one of the first units to engage the Germans in France and Flanders. Foster's squadron arrived in France on the 12th of October 1914 and saw action with the 3rd Cavalry Division in the following major battles:

Ypres: 19 October - 22 November 1914
Langemarck: 21-24 October 1914
Gheluvelt: 29-31 October 1914
Nonne Boschen: 11 November 1914

Ypres: 22 April - 25 May 1915
St. Julien: 24 April - 4 May 1915
Frezenberg: 8-13 May 1915
Bellewaarde: 24-25 May 1915

Loos: 25 September - 5 October 1915

For the great British offensive on the Somme (Albert) from the 1st to the 13th of July 1916, Foster's squadron came under the control of the British XVIII Corps. The squadron then reverted to the control of the 3rd Cavalry Division and took part in the action at Pozieres from the 23rd of July to the 3rd of September 1916 before being assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division for the battle of the Scarpe between the 9th and 14th of April 1917.

The 3rd Field Squadron returned to the control of the 3rd Cavalry Division for the following major actions:

Cambrai: 20 November - 3 December 1917
St. Quentin: 21-23 March 1918
Avre: 4 April 1918
Amiens: 8-11 August 1918
Pursuit to Mons: 28 September - 11 November 1918
St. Quentin Canal: 29 September - 2 October 1918
Beaurevoir: 3-5 October 1918
Cambrai: 8-9 October 1918

Sapper Foster survived the war and was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service.

REFERENCE:

Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Engineers Journal, 1925-1932.