Foster, Robert Arthur
No.2088 – Private Robert Arthur Foster – 44th Battalion AIF
Robert Arthur Foster was born in Lancashire England on the 25th June 1888 to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Foster. He was educated locally at the Walton-le-Dale National School and after leaving Robert took up a carpentry & joiner apprenticeship in Preston England for seven years. Robert continued with this trade when he came out to Western Australia in 1910. Robert arrived in Fremantle on the ship Omrah. He resided for a time in Fremantle and then took to Farming in the Mount Marshall area. Robert was in Fremantle when he enlisted in the AIF on the 26th April 1916. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 5 inches tall; weight of 141 lbs; chest measurement of 34-38 inches; fresh complexion; dark brown eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.
Robert was initially allotted to No.66 Depot and then was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next few months until their embarkation orders came through. On the 10th October 1916 Robert and his group boarded the H.M.A.T. “Suffolk” in Fremantle Harbour and set sail on the long voyage to England. They reached Plymouth on the 2nd December 1916 and after being disembarked were marched into the 11th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains.
Their stay at this camp was of a short duration as on the 20th December 1916 Robert arrived at Folkestone Harbour for the journey over to France on the “Princess Victoria”. On arrival at Etaples, Robert was marched into the 3rd Australian Division Base Depot. He would spend just over a month here as on the 25th January he marched out from the 3rd ADBD Camp to join the 44th Battalion in the field. The following day he was officially taken on strength of the 44th Battalion. The 44th were currently in the Armentieres sector of Northern France.
Robert had his first taste of trench warfare in this sector and moved with the Battalion when they were transferred to the Ploegsteert sector of Southern Belgium. The 44th were stationed in this sector for the next few months and conducted trench raids during this period. However they were gearing up for the large Messines Offensive which was to take place on the 7th June 1917. This offensive was quite successful with all objectives initially taken. The 44th Battalion came into action after the first objective had been taken and went on to the 2nd & 3rd Objectives. The 44th Battalion came upon tougher resistance than that of the 1st objective though they still managed to gain their objectives. The Germans launched heavy shellfire on the Australians and unfortunately the allied artillery began to drop short on the 43rd & 44th Battalion’s causing many casualties though Robert came through unscathed.
After the battle was over the 44th Battalion were relieved from the front line and were sent to the rear for a rest. However at around the 21st June they were again sent up to the front line in the previously captured area to garrison the trenches. Heavy shellfire occurred through this period and on the 24th June 1917 Robert was killed by shrapnel from a German shell.
He was given a battlefield burial buy his battalion mates and though no map reference exists, the following reference is in Robert’s service records.
“Buried at approx 200 yards east of Messines and 500 yards south east of cross roads & east of Stegnost Farm.”
Unfortunately, after the war Robert’s final resting place was not located and he is therefore commemorated on the 44th Battalion section of the Menin Gate Memorial.
His parents in Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire, England would receive his personal belongings and medals.