William George Foster
Encyclopedia
William George Foster GC
MC
DCM
(12 December 1881–13 September 1942) was a British
Home Guard officer who was awarded the George Cross
for the heroism he displayed on 13 September 1942 when his prompt actions saved his comrades after a grenade accident during training in Ashley Hill, Clarendon Park
, near Salisbury
in Wiltshire
.
He was born at sea on 12 December 1881 and fought in the Boer War
with the 2nd Imperial Light Horse, returning to Britain after being seriously wounded. After being discharged as medically unfit he rejoined the army, in the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and fought in the First World War at Ypres
and Mons
, being mentioned in dispatches three times. He won the Distinguished Conduct Medal
and the Military Cross
in 1916 while serving with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He was commissioned in 1916 and retired in 1919 as a Captain
.
In the Second World War he joined the 7th Wiltshire (Salisbury) Battalion of the Home Guard as a Lieutenant
. Notice of his citation was published in the London Gazette
of 27 November 1942.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
DCM
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
(12 December 1881–13 September 1942) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Home Guard officer who was awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for the heroism he displayed on 13 September 1942 when his prompt actions saved his comrades after a grenade accident during training in Ashley Hill, Clarendon Park
Clarendon Park
Clarendon Park may refer to:*Clarendon Park, Jamaica*Clarendon Park, Leicester*Clarendon Park, Wiltshire...
, near Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
He was born at sea on 12 December 1881 and fought in the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
with the 2nd Imperial Light Horse, returning to Britain after being seriously wounded. After being discharged as medically unfit he rejoined the army, in the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and fought in the First World War at Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
and Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
, being mentioned in dispatches three times. He won the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
and the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1916 while serving with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He was commissioned in 1916 and retired in 1919 as a Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
.
In the Second World War he joined the 7th Wiltshire (Salisbury) Battalion of the Home Guard as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. Notice of his citation was published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 27 November 1942.