Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
Herbert William Foster was born in Willenhall in 1882. He was the son of John Foster, blacksmith and beerhouse keeper, and his wife Ann. They lived at 78 Walsall Road, Willenhall.
Herbert became a grocer. He married Gertrude Gorton at St Pauls, Wolverhampton, on 5th November 1900. By 1911 Herbert and Gertrude were living at 7 Lower Green, Tettenhall, with their five children. Herbert was working as an assistant superintendant for Pearl Assurance. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record that Gertrude later lived at The Pavement, Brewood.
The amount of War Gratuity paid to Herbert's widow suggests that he enlisted in December 1914. He joined the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment and went to France on 25th of May 1915. He probably saw action at Loos and on the Somme. He rose to the rank of Sergeant. He died of wounds on 17th September 1916 at the 100th Field Ambulance during the Battles of the Somme. He is buried in Hebuterne Military Cemetery.
Sergeant Herbert William Foster, 16129, was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1915 Star. An article in the Express and Star of November 11th, 2006, records the addition of a plaque bearing Herbert's name to the memorial at SS Mary & Chad.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.