Foster, Cyril
7296 Private Cyril Foster - 28th Battalion AIF
Cyril was born on the 21st May 1899 in Port Adelaide South Australia to Frederick and Matilda Foster. He had four siblings, Percy 1889, Allen 1890, Stanley 1892 and Eileen 1896.
His father died in Port Adelaide on the 12 September 1904. His mother was left to bring up the children and she moved to Perth with them and remarried in 1907 to David Edward Lamb and they lived at 107 George Street East Fremantle.
Cyril completed his education in Fremantle and also served with the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces. After leaving school Cyril found work as a labourer.
On the 23rd April 1917 Cyril enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He took with him his mothers signed permission slip. Cyril was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 2 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 118lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-34 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment Cyril was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was sent to No.22 Training Depot. He spent a few weeks there being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 5th June 1917 Cyril was transferred to the 5th Military District Guard. He remained on duty in WA in this capacity till the end of the year.
On the 4th January 1918 Cyril was then transferred into the 22nd Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group for a few more weeks while they waited for their departure orders to arrive.
On the 13th March 1918, Cyril and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship Ormonde. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving there on the 4th April 1918. The men were disembarked and had to wait four weeks for another available ship to take them to England.
On the 30th April 1918 Cyril and his group boarded the ship Ellonga at Port Tewfik and then set sail for England, arriving at Southampton on the 15th May 1918. After being disembarked, the men were sent to the 5th Training Battalion at Fovant Camp.
Cyril would spend the next three months at this training camp. On the 15th August 1918 he left England and proceeded to France. He then spent a few days at the Australian Base Depot at Le Havre but joined the 28th Battalion on the 20th August 1918.
Cyril had joined the 28th Battalion when the great advance was in progress and soon after his joining, the 28th Battalion were about to take part in the capture of the Mont St Quentin area near Peronne. From late August 1918 into early September 1918 a battle was fought for the heights of Mont St Quentin and the Peronne townsite.
The Australians were successful but casualties had been heavy, though fortunately Cyril came through unscathed.
The 28th Battalion were taken out of the line for a brief rest but were soon in the thick of the action from September 28th to October 4th 1918 when the battle to capture Montbrehain and the Hindenburg Line took place. During the action Cyril was wounded, being hit in the arms by shrapnel. He was initially treated at the 11th Field Ambulance and from there was sent to a Casualty Clearing Station where further care was given.
Cyril was then sent by ambulance train to the French coast and the town of Rouen where he was admitted to the 9th General Hospital. He spent a few days there and was then shipped to England, where upon arrival he was then admitted to the 4th Southern General Hospital in Plymouth.
He spent over a month there recovering and on the 7th November 1918 was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Cyril only spent a few days there and on the 11th November 1918, which just happened to be Armistice Day, he was given a two week furlough, which no doubt was well spent.
On the 25th November 1918 Cyril reported into No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. He remained here for the next few weeks but on the 18th December 1918 he was admitted to Sutton Veny hospital with tonsilitis. Fortunately he recovered quickly and was released from hospital on Christmas Eve.
Cyril was then able to have Christmas and New Year in Sutton Veny Camp while he waited to be assigned a berth on a troopship home. On the 14th January 1919 he boarded the transport Ship City of York and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 18th February 1919.
After being disembarked Cyril was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical checkup.
Cyril was discharged from the AIF on the 10th March 1919.
On his return home Cyril went to live at 29 Burt Street Fremantle. (later renumbered 9 Burt)
Cyril got married in 1921 to Amelia Ethel May (Millie) Goddard at St Peter's Church East Fremantle and had the following children, Jessie 1921, Phyllis 1923, Cyril 1924 & Allen 1928.
By 1925 the family had moved to Tamar street East Fremantle/Palmyra and Cyril was working as a lumper on Fremantle wharf. Cyril had a lucky escape in 1935 as while he was working on the Ship Largs Bay he was struck by a sling and fell 20 yards, fortunately onto woolen bales. He received injuries to his head but fortunately soon recovered.
In 1937 the family moved to 56 King Street East Fremantle (later renumbered to 26 King Street). They lived there till 1944 and then moved to 49 King Street.
By 1949 the family were living at 20 Tamar street Palmyra and lived there till the early 1960's when they moved to 13 Thomas street South Fremantle.
Cyril died on the 2nd April 1970 aged 72. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON AA 1589.