Medal Card
Tyneside Scottish
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
Frank Foster was born at Barrington, a mining village near to Bedlington, Northumberland about 1887. His mother was Elizabeth Foster from Hexham in Northumberland.
In 1891 the Foster family lived at First Row, Sleekburn Colliery Northumberland where Frank’s mother, aged 47, was a widow. Also in the household were siblings John, 21, Elizabeth, 14, Hannah, 12, Thomas, 10, and Robert aged 8. Frank at this time was four years old.
The 1901 Census shows Frank to be 14 years old and working in the coal mines below ground. Family members in the house include his mother Elizabeth and siblings John and Elizabeth. The address shown on the form is Freehold Row, Choppington, Northumberland.
By 1911, Frank has been married about two years to Mary Ann, born at Bank Top, Bedlington and they have a son William aged 1. The record shows Frank’s family living at 34, Ravensworth Terrace, Bedlington Station. Frank, now age 24, was a Colliery Labourer underground.
Some military records mistakenly show Frank born at Warrington which should be Barrington. Frank enlisted at Bedlington. His Pension Index Card shows Mary Ann widow and children William Elizabeth and Thomas.
Frank Foster is remembered in Choppington on C36.01 and in Stakeford on S71.02
