Foster, William George

Date of birth:: December 12th, 1880 (On sea, registered Portsmouth in January 1881)
Date of death:: September 13th, 1942 (Ashley Hill, Wiltshire, Great Britain)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves St. Mary Churchyard
Nationality:: British

Biography

Lieutenant Foster is the oldest direct recipient of the George Cross.
Inside St. Mary's Church, Alderbury. Memorial plaque which has the following inscription :
IN MEMORY OF LIEUT. WILLIAM FOSTER G.C. HOME GUARD
WHO AT ASHLEY HILL ON THE 13TH OF SEPTEMBER 1942
THREW HIMSELF ON A LIVE BOMB WHEREBY HE LOST HIS OWN LIFE
BUT SAVED ABOUT 30 MEN WHO WERE STANDING NEARBY FROM DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.

A replica George Cross is on display in Alderbury Parish Church, Near Salisbury, Wiltshire.

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Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:: Temporary Captain
Unit:: 4th (City of London) Battalion Royal Fusiliers, British Expeditionary Force (BEF), British Army
Awarded on:: May 16th, 1916

"For conspicuous zeal and devotion to duty throughout the war."

Military Cross (MC)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:: 1916

George Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: 7th Wiltshire (Salisbury) Battalion, Home Guard, British Army
Awarded on:: November 27th, 1942

On 13th September 1942 at Ashley Hill, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, Lieutenant Foster was instructing a group of recruits in the art of throwing live grenades from a slit trench. One of the men threw a live Mills bomb, which instead of going over the top, hit the parapet and rebounded to the firing position. Without hesitation Lieutenant Foster threw himself on the bomb one second before it exploded, thus saving the lives of his comrades nearby. This officer's gallant action was not carried out in the heat of battle, but deliberately in cold blood, and with the full knowledge of the consequences. As a result of this action Lieutenant Foster lost his life.