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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Private Leonard Foster

Description

TitlePrivate Leonard FosterAlternative NameLenSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionLeonard known as Len, was born at Christchurch on 22 April 1889, youngest son of the Sarah Ann and William Foster. Before enlisting he was working as a farm hand for T. E. Boyle. He had previous military experience with the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. He was 5ft 5½in tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

Len enlisted on 2nd May 1916 and was assigned to the 17th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He ran into trouble even before he left, suffering from influenza at Featherston in July and then when he got to Trentham he had a case of measles on 14th August 1916. However he was well enough to embark on 23rd September 1916 on the Ulimaroa, even there he spent 7 days in the hospital ward with a headache, perhaps a migraine. They arrived in Devonport and Sling Camp on 18th November. After a brief rest he left for France on 9th December. After passing through Etaples he joined 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment on 7th January 1917. His health problems were not over as he was taken by field ambulance to St Omer Hospital with mumps on 18th February. He re-joined the 13th Company, 2nd Battalion in the field on 12th March. Like many others he was wounded during the disastrous attack at Passchendaele on 12th October 1917. He was admitted to No 3 Field Ambulance then taken to No 17 Casualty Clearing Station on 13th suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Finally he was taken to No 35 Hospital at Calais on the 16th . Sadly he died of his wounds at 4.50am on 22nd October 1917, aged 25. He was buried at the Calais Southern Cemetery. In New Zealand Leonard is remembered on the Springston War Memorial and the Irwell Honours Board at Irwell School.

Calais Southern Cemetery is a civil cemetery lying on the south of the old main road to Dunkerque. In April 1915, No 6 Base Supply Depot was started at Calais to help relieve the pressure on Boulogne and to provide a base nearer to the front than Le Havre or Rouen. The base remained open until the last Commonwealth forces left France in March 1921. The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals, No 9 British Red Cross Hospital and No 10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were also stationed in the town, providing about 2,500 beds. From May 1915 to March 1918, Commonwealth burials were made in Calais Southern Cemetery. Subsequent interments were made in the new military cemetery at Les Baraques. The cemetery now contains 721 First World War burials. There are also 224 burials of the Second World War, 56 of them unidentified, the majority dating from May 1940. The Commonwealth plot was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.First NameLeonardLast NameFosterFamilySingleYoungest son of the Sarah Ann and William FosterDate of Birth22 April 1892Place of BirthChristchurchDate of Death22 October 1917Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathDied of woundsAge at Death25

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CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageSpringston War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryCalais Southern CemeterySpringston War Memorial Occupation before EnlistingFarm HandRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details2nd May 1916Service Number21669Embarkation23rd September 1916TransportUlimaroaReinforcement17th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. Seaton

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Private Leonard Foster