Harry Wickwire Foster
Encyclopedia
Major General
Harry Wickwire Foster, CBE
, DSO
, (April 2, 1902 - August 6, 1964) was a Canadian
Army officer who commanded two Canadian army divisions during World War II
. He served in both the Pacific and European theatres.
, son of Major General
Gilbert Lafayette Foster, director general of the medical services of the First World War. Educated at King’s College at Windsor, Nova Scotia as a cadet. Attended school at Berkhamsted
, England; Bishop's College School
in Lennoxville, Quebec
; Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston, Ontario; and McGill University
, Montreal.
in 1924 and held the rank of Captain by 1934. Graduated from Staff College, Camberley
in 1939 and was promoted to Brigade Major
at the outbreak of the Second World War. Appointed to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and led Canadian troops in the Kiska
campaign in 1943 (Operation Cottage
), for which he was awarded the American Legion of Merit. In 1944 was promoted to Major General
and led the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
and 1st Canadian Infantry Division
s during their liberation sweep across France and Belgium in the fall of 1944.
Major-General Foster was commander of both 4th Canadian Armoured Division (North West Europe) and 1st Canadian Infantry Division (Italy). In 1941, (then) Lieutenant Colonel Foster assumed command of 4th Reconnaissance Regiment--4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
, the recently activated scout formation assigned to 1st Canadian Infantry Division in England.
On September 12, 1944 he entered the historic city of Bruges
(Belgium
) with his troops. The Liberation of this medieval town was done successfully, without fight or damage. In recognition for this achievement, Foster was named an honorary citizen of Bruges, award only bestowed upon two people since 1900: Foster and Hendrik Brugmans
, first rector of the College of Europe
.
. Organized and commanded Eastern Army Command. Upon retirement in 1950 took the civilian appointment of Chief Administrator of the Central European District, Imperial War Graves Commission. In 1959 married third wife Mona Leonhart (née Parsons) and was appointed honorary Aide-de-Camp
to Governor General Georges Vanier
.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Harry Wickwire Foster, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, (April 2, 1902 - August 6, 1964) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Army officer who commanded two Canadian army divisions during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served in both the Pacific and European theatres.
Early life
Born in HalifaxCity of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, son of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Gilbert Lafayette Foster, director general of the medical services of the First World War. Educated at King’s College at Windsor, Nova Scotia as a cadet. Attended school at Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted
-Climate:Berkhamsted experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Castle:...
, England; Bishop's College School
Bishop's College School
This article is about the school in Canada. Alternatively, visit Diocesan College in Cape Town, South Africa.Bishop's College School is a private school in Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada....
in Lennoxville, Quebec
Lennoxville, Quebec
Lennoxville is an arrondissement, or borough, of the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Lennoxville is located at the confluence of the St. Francis and Massawippi Rivers approximately five kilometers south of downtown Sherbrooke....
; Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
, Kingston, Ontario; and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Montreal.
Military career
Joined Lord Strathcona’s HorseLord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
Lord Strathcona's Horse is a regular armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of Land Force Western Area's 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group...
in 1924 and held the rank of Captain by 1934. Graduated from Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
in 1939 and was promoted to Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
at the outbreak of the Second World War. Appointed to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and led Canadian troops in the Kiska
Kiska
Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :...
campaign in 1943 (Operation Cottage
Operation Cottage
Operation Cottage was a tactical maneuver during the Aleutian Islands campaign. In the operation, which took place on August 15, 1943, Allied military forces landed unopposed on Kiska Island, which had been occupied by Japanese forces since June, 1942. The Japanese forces, however, had secretly...
), for which he was awarded the American Legion of Merit. In 1944 was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and led the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
The 4th Canadian Division was created by the conversion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in Canada. The division proceeded overseas in 1942, with its two main convoys reaching the United Kingdom in August and October....
and 1st Canadian Infantry Division
1st Canadian Infantry Division
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was a formation mobilized on 1 September 1939 for service in the Second World War. The division was also reactivated twice during the Cold War....
s during their liberation sweep across France and Belgium in the fall of 1944.
Major-General Foster was commander of both 4th Canadian Armoured Division (North West Europe) and 1st Canadian Infantry Division (Italy). In 1941, (then) Lieutenant Colonel Foster assumed command of 4th Reconnaissance Regiment--4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
The 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards is an inactive armoured regiment of the Canadian militia.-Lineage:The Regiment's history dates back to Ottawa in the early 1870s and its membership in Canada's militia...
, the recently activated scout formation assigned to 1st Canadian Infantry Division in England.
On September 12, 1944 he entered the historic city of Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) with his troops. The Liberation of this medieval town was done successfully, without fight or damage. In recognition for this achievement, Foster was named an honorary citizen of Bruges, award only bestowed upon two people since 1900: Foster and Hendrik Brugmans
Hendrik Brugmans
Hendrik Brugmans was the son of historian Hajo Brugmans and Maria Keizer. He studied history of French literature at the Universiteit van Amsterdam and the Sorbonne University in Paris....
, first rector of the College of Europe
College of Europe
The College of Europe is an independent university institute of postgraduate European studies with the main campus in Bruges, Belgium...
.
Post war
After the war, presided over the court martial of Canada’s top prisoner of war, SS General Kurt MeyerKurt Meyer (Panzermeyer)
Kurt Meyer, nicknamed "Panzermeyer", served as an officer in the Waffen-SS during the Second World War. He saw action in many major battles, including the Invasion of France, Operation Barbarossa, and the Battle of Normandy.Meyer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and...
. Organized and commanded Eastern Army Command. Upon retirement in 1950 took the civilian appointment of Chief Administrator of the Central European District, Imperial War Graves Commission. In 1959 married third wife Mona Leonhart (née Parsons) and was appointed honorary Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Governor General Georges Vanier
Georges Vanier
Major-General Georges-Philéas Vanier was a Canadian soldier and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 19th since Canadian Confederation....
.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2, 1902 | born |
| 1924 | Lord Strathcona’s Horse |
| 1934 | Captain |
| 1939 | graduated Camberley |
| 1939 | promoted to Major Major Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ... |
| 1943 | promoted Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence... ; the Kiska Kiska Kiska is an island in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska located at . It is about long and varies in width from - Discovery :... campaign |
| 1944 | promoted Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... |
| 1950 | retires from army; War Graves Commission |
| 1959 | 3rd marriage |
| August 6, 1964 | dies |