Name
Walter James Reeve Foskett
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/11/1914
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7279
Northamptonshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
III. C. 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wilstone Village Memorial, Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
Walter James Reeve Foskett was born in Wilstone in 1885 (baptised 12 Jul 1885) to Joseph Foskett, carpenter, and Sarah (Allam).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Harry (born 1875), Charlie (born 1879), Sarah (born 1881), William (born 1883), Walter, Annie (born 1887), and Thomas Edney (born 1871) and Archibald Allam (born 1878) at High Street, Berkhamsted.
For 1911 Census see additional information below.
No Service Record was found for Walter James. He enlisted as Private 7278, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment in Tring. His Serial Number 7278 was issued in 1904.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War 1st Battalion were stationed at Aldershot as part of 2 Brigade, 1st Division and were rapidly deployed to France , landing at Le Havre on 13 Aug 1914 to become a component of the British Expeditionary Force. 1st Division were engaged in the Battles of Mons (23-24 Aug), Marne (7-10 Sep), Aisne ( 12-15 Sep). Following the Aisne battle the BEF moved to north to Ypres to engage in 1st Ypres (10 Oct-22 Nov 1914).
The 1st Division were active in the battles of Langemarck (21-24 Oct) and Gheluvelt (29 -31 Oct). Walter James was reported killed in action on 9 Nov 1914 during a period between major engagements, this seems at odds with his burial in Boulogne which suggests he was wounded, and evacuated to Base Hospital and died of his wounds there.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £8 7s 0d was paid to his mother. CWGC records Walters father to be Mr R E Tomlin : On the 1911 Census a Walter Foskett was lodging with the Tomlins at White House, Miiswell, Tring and the wife of George Tomlin was Rose E Tomlin (nee Foskett), believed to be his Aunt.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
