Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
John Henry was born at Bowes in 1899 and was the only child of Henry and his wife, Sarah Jane. In 1911 the family were at Dovefold, Crook. Henry (father) worked as a miner (stone man).
John was an apprentice sawyer when he enlisted into the army 21st October 1917. He originally served in the Durham Light Infantry 52nd Training Battalion with service number 5/118374 later transferring to 15th Battalion with service number 46424. His service records show the change of address from Dovefold Crook to Thornley Village for his parents. By the end of the War his parents had moved to Reservoir Terrace, Stanley, Crook.
He was killed in action only 4 days before the Armistice on 7th November 1918 aged 19 years.
Dourlers village was held by German forces for almost the whole of WW1. However after heavy fighting on 7 November it was overtaken by British Forces.
The cemetery there was used by the Germans for their dead but after November an extension was created to accommodate Commonwealth troops. His father added the following sentiment to John’s headstone :- “Thy will be done”
John was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John Henry Foster is remembered at Thornley on T55.01 and T55.02 at Tow Law on T57.01 and in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 310
