In Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 155250 Gunner Robert Foster serving with the 24th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery who died 22/09/1918.
He was the husband of Mrs. M. Foster, of 24, Victoria Cottages, High Felling, Gateshead.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Forster was born 1888 at Kimblesworth, County Durham, his wife Mary White whom he married in 1910 in the district of Gateshead historically in County Durham, was born on April 2nd 1896 at Morpeth Northumberland. In 1911 they were living at 13, Coniston Avenue, Newburn on Tyne where Robert was employed as a coal miner-shifter.
Their son Joseph was born at Walker Road, Walker, a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne on December 11th 1911 before they moved to 6, Dixon Terrace, Felling, Gateshead also historically in County Durham the birthplace of Margaret Foster affectionately known as Peggy on October 14th 1914.
As early as 1911 there had been rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany which was declared on August 4th 1914. Robert left his employment as a coal miner and enlisted at Felling where he was assigned to the Royal Garrison Artillery and trained as a gunner.
Robert Foster was assigned as Gunner 155250 to the 24th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery, which departed to France on August 20th 1915. Robert did not join them until after April 1916 and departed leaving his wife Mary pregnant with their third child. Mary Foster was born at 6, Dixon Terrace, Gateshead on January 2nd 1917.
The Siege Batteries equipped with heavy Howitzer guns and firing large calibre 4, 6, 8 or 9.2 inch shells were deployed behind the front line in France to destroy the enemy artillery, supply routes, railways and stores.
Robert Foster was killed in action September 22nd 1918 during the attacks to regain from the Germans the villages of Caulaincourt and Trefcon and interred at Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne, France grave C. 1. He was 30 years old.
His widow Mary received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their 3 children in the sum of 27 shillings 7 pence awarded on April 5th 1919 to be received weekly as of April 14th 1919 and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at their home address of 6, Dixon Terrace, Felling.
During the 3rd quarter (July/Aug/September) 1919 Mary Foster gave birth to a son at Dixon Terrace whom she named Percival J. Foster known affectionately as Percy. During the same quarter of 1919 Mary married John Arthur Marshall in the district of Gateshead and moved into his home at 24, Victoria Cottages, Felling. John Arthur who was born at Oxhill, County Durham in 1874 was a widower whose wife Elizabeth (nee Brooks), who had given birth to 7 children, had died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1918 leaving him with 4 surviving children to raise.
In 1921 John Arthur, Mary and their respective children were still living at 24, Victoria Cottages, Felling. John Arthur (48) was employed as a shot firer by Heworth Coal Company, High Heworth at Heworth Colliery as was his son John Marshall (15). Ada Annie Marshall (10), Margaret Marshall (6), Joseph Foster (9) and Margaret Foster (6) were whole time scholars. Mary Marshall 4 and Percy Foster (2) remained at home where Mary had given birth to a son Robert Marshall in 1920 who was now 11 months old.
Mary Marshall-Foster nee White died in 1933 registered at Gateshead, County Durham.
The original military headstone raised over the grave of Gunner Robert Foster was replaced in March 2005. The existing headstone has an inscription which reads, “LOVED AND REMEMBERED-PEGGY AND MARY.”
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Forster is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and as Robert Foster on H92.04 and H92.07
