Current Information:

Newington Butts

Born-Staffordshire

Enlisted-London

Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium

On 11th March, 1915, the 1st Cornwall Light Infantry battalion of 14th Brigade, 5th Division moved into trenches south-west of Messines where they remained until relieved on 15th March, then returning to these trenches on 19th March for a further three days. William Foster was killed on 20th March but as yet there is no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.