Edward Foster was born in Streatham on 4 Feb 1886. He was a tall man, nicknamed ‘Tiny’. He was in the 13th Battalion (Wandsworth Regulars), East Surreys, and was awarded the VC for his courage at Villers Plouich in France, on 24 April 1917. His Battalion’s advance was held up by an entrenched machine-gun position with two guns. It was protected by barbed wire. Corporal Foster was in charge of a gun-section armed with two Lewis guns. He gained entry into the enemy trench to fire on the German guns. In the fight one of the Lewis guns was captured but Foster, using grenades, recaptured the weapon and shot the enemy gun team. The two enemy machine-guns were now in Foster’s possession.
Edward Foster was recommended for the VC, gazetted on 27 June 1917. He went to Buckingham Palace where he was presented with his medal by King George V on 21 July 1917. After the war he worked as a dustman for Wandsworth Council, a job he had before the war, and was promoted to Dusting Inspector, a job that lasted 26 years. He was also an active member of the British Legion. He died in Wandsworth on 22 Jan 1946 and was buried in Streatham Cemetery. His medals, including the Medaille Militaire, sold at Sothebys in June 1988 for 11,000 pounds. A black granite headstone was provided for his grave and unveiled at a ceremony in June 1997.
