Edward Foster VC (4 January 1886 – 22 January 1946) was an English recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

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and

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forces. Born in

Streatham Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth. Streatham was in Surrey ...

, London on 4 February 1886, Foster worked for Wandsworth Council in South West London as a

dustman A waste collector, also known as a garbage man, garbage collector, trashman (in the U.S), binman or dustman (in the UK), is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and dispose of municipal solid waste (refuse) and recycl ...

. On 27 July 1915, during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he enlisted in the 13th Battalion (Wandsworth) East Surrey Regiment,

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

, and went to France with the battalion in June 1916. Foster was 31 years old, and a

corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...

in the 13th East Surreys, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 24 April 1917 at

Villers-Plouich Villers-Plouich () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France, situated 14 km south-west of the town of Cambrai Cambrai (, ; ; ), formerly Cambray and historically in English Camerick or Camericke, is a city in the Nord ...

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, during an attack, the advance was held up in a portion of the village by two machine-guns which were entrenched and strongly covered by wire entanglements. Corporal Foster, who was in charge of two Lewis guns, succeeded in entering the trench and engaging the enemy guns. One of the Lewis guns was lost, but the corporal rushed forward, bombed the enemy and recovered the gun. Then, getting his two guns into action, he killed the enemy gun team and captured their guns. Foster was also awarded the

Médaille Militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' (, "Military Medal") is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...

. Foster was discharged from the Army in October 1918 and returned to work with Wandsworth Council. The council, in recognition of his gallant record, promoted him to Dusting Inspector in which capacity he continued to work for twenty-six years. He died suddenly at the age of 60 on 22 January 1946. He is buried in Streatham Cemetery in London where a headstone was erected on his grave in 1997. His Victoria Cross and other medals were sold by

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on 30 June 1988 for £11,000. His VC is now on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the

Imperial War Museum The Imperial War Museum (IWM), currently branded "Imperial War Museums", is a British national museum. It is headquartered in London, with five branches in England. Founded as the Imperial War Museum in 1917, it was intended to record the civ ...

, London. A footpath in

King George's Park King George's Park is a main park spanning Wandsworth and Southfields, South London. History The park was originally called Southfields Park and was laid out in 1922. It was officially opened by King George V in 1923 and renamed in his honour ...

– Foster's Way – is named in Foster's honour.

Honours

UK King George VI Coronation Medal ribbon

References

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
''(South London)'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Edward 1886 births 1946 deaths People from Streatham East Surrey Regiment soldiers British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross British Army personnel of World War I British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Burials at Streatham Cemetery Military personnel from Surrey Military personnel from the London Borough of Lambeth