Heslop's Local Advertiser 24/11/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Henry Foster was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, in 1895, one of 6 children he was the eldest of 4 sons and 2 daughters. His father Joseph Forster native of Seghill, Northumberland was born in 1863 and married at Tynemouth, Northumberland in 1862 to Elizabeth Gibbon born at Crook, County Durham in 1869. Two years later they had moved to Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, in 1901 they were living at 8, Patterson Street, Joseph was employed as a hewer at the colliery. By 1911 they were at 92, Elliott Street, daughter Mary Ann (17) was employed as a sewing machinist making shirts and Thomas Henry worked as a grocer’s assistant, Isabella (13), George (10),,Joseph (9) and William (6) attended school.
On the outbreak of war Thomas Henry Forster of 1, Temple Street, left his employment as a coal miner and enlisted at Felling, January 6th 1915 assigned as Private 23171 Durham Light Infantry he joined the Regiment at their barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was posted January 19th to the 14th (Service) Battalion, part of Kitchener’s New Army. The 14th and 15th Battalions joined the 64th Brigade, 21st Division in training at Halton Park and after the issue of khaki uniforms and rifles their training began in earnest.
September 11th 1915 Private Forster departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force landing at Boulogne. Two weeks later both still inexperienced and unprepared the 14th and 15th Battalions Durham Light Infantry took part in the first British offensive on the Western Front, sent into battle at Loos. They both attacked the German front line only to be driven back by machine gun fire. The 14th Battalion lost almost 300 men killed or wounded the 15th Battalion over 450, including both battalion’s commanding officers.
The 14th Battalion joined the 18th Brigade, 6th Division during November 1915, spending the winter and spring in the trenches of the Ypres salient, December 13th until December 29th 1915 Private Forster was taken by the 18th Field Ambulance to the Field Hospital suffering with dental problems, once resolved he returned to his Battalion. Early August 1916 they were moved south to the Somme where they were involved at the Battle of Morval and Le Transloy then spending yet another miserable winter in the trenches.
April 1917 they joined the attack in the Lens coalfield successfully capturing Nash Alley but were then forced to retreat. May 19th 1917 Private Forster was appointed paid Lance Corporal. Taken, August 20th 1917 by the 16th Field Ambulance for treatment, suffering from scabies, he returned to duty in the field August 28th 1917.
Two days later, August 30th 1917 Lance Corporal 23171 Thomas Henry Forster Durham Light Infantry was killed in action. He is interred at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Loos, grave II. F. 15. The cemetery was used extensively by the British during the Battle of Loos in 1916, after Armistice several more servicemen were brought in from the battlefields between Loos and Hulluch. Lance Corporal Forster was 22 years old and single.
His mother Elizabeth as sole legitimate beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, also sent to her at their home address of 28, Parkinson Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham were his personal effects consisting of; letters, photos, note book and 3 pocket cases. She commissioned at a cost of 12 shillings 10 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “His Memory Sweetens Day By Day And Keeps Him Ever Near”.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop's Local Advertiser 24/11/1917 carries notice of his death:
"Lance-Corporal Thomas H. Forster, D.L.I., killed in action, Aug. 30th aged 22 years. Eldest son of Joseph and Elizabeth Forster, 1 Temple St., Felling."
Thomas Henry Forster is remembered in Felling on F32.07
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 229
