Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Royal Sussex Regiment


Archivist_47

Recommended Posts

Arthur Derrick Huthersall Foster joined/enlisted in Royal Sussex Regiment in September 1914. He transferred to the RFC in 1918 and was sent to the Farnborough Wireless School and subsequently commissioned as Lieutenant (Technical).

My question is - where did he enlist (he was born in Selby, Yorkshire), which battalion did he join and where was he from 1914 to 1918?

He carried on during the 1920s in the RAF and retired c.1947 as Group Captain at Hawkinge. He is buried at Hawkinge Crematorium.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This may be him:

LG 21-2-1917

INFANTRY.

E. Kent R. Temp. 2nd Lt. A. D. H. Foster, from attd., to be temp. 2nd Lt. 29th Sept. 1914.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

The date ties in with that of his commission. Do you have the Gazette entry for that?

LG 9-4-1915

The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants.

Arthur Derrick Huthersall Foster. (Dated 29th September, 1914.)

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

LG 24-12-1917

The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. Lts.: —

E. Kent R.

A. D. H. Foster. 4th Aug. 1915.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

LG 30-8-1918

Air Ministry,

30th August, 1918.

ROYAL AIR FORCE.

TECHNICAL BRANCH.

The undermentioned are granted temp, commns. as 2nd Lts.: —

1st Aug. 1918.

A. D. H. Foster (temp. Lt., E. KentR.), and to be Hon. Lt.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

LG 17-11-1921

INFANTRY.

Service Battalions.

The Buffs.

Temp. Lt. A.. D. H. Foster-resigns his commission on appt. to a commission in the R.A.F. 1 Aug. 1918.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

If so this may be his MIC:

Medal card of Foster, A D

Corps Regiment No Rank

Hampshire Regiment Lieutenant

East Kent Regiment Lieutenant

Royal Air Force Temporary Captain

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=6

This man appears to be a Squadron Leader by 1937:

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

He became a flying officer in January 1926. (Times)

Promoted Flt. Lt in 1936 and moved to RAF Station, Hawkinge - 29-7-1936 (Times)

Engaged to Margaret Leresche in 1936 (Times)

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Times 11-5-1936

post-6536-1158162899.png

You probably have this information...

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The article on his brother, John Cecil, seems to confirm that the man in the Buffs was indeed the third brother.

 

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The aforementioned Officers File (Physical file at National Archive only, not Online)

Piece details: WO 339/37289

FOSTER A D H, 2/Lieut

Covering dates 1914-1918; 1926 (Correspondence dates)

Scope and content FOSTER A D H, 2/Lieut

Access conditions Normal Closure before FOI Act: 30 years

Closure status Open Document, Open Description

Held by The National Archives, Kew

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalog...;accessmethod=0

I believe you can order copies of the file, but I have not done so myself with one of these.

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm going tomorrow so I'll get a copy and post what I find.

If it is his file then it's strange that it's available if he served in 1937

Watch this space

Mick

Just had a look at my files and ADH Foster of the Buffs went overseas in Nov 1915 to Egypt as a Lieut.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This would be his Army file I think, After that he would have an RAF file?

Wounded in 1916 per an article here, Michael.

 

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He first joined the 8th Royal Sussex Pioneers as a 2nd Lieutenant on 29/9/1914. He then applied for a temp commission in the Regular Army at Colchester in March 1915. His CO (I think Colonel Sutton) recommended him and requested that he stayed with the Bn. He also recommended that his commission should date from 29/9/1914. He somehow he ended up in the 7th Buffs. The reasons are not clear in the file

The file is quite a large one but here is the page that ties it all together. It appears that after his wound he was finding life quite difficult and he had a battle trying to get a gratuity.

post-174-1158350324.jpg

My apologies for the size of this file; it's as big as the forum will allow

Mick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The fact that this file is available has dispelled an urban myth that "the MOD still holds the files of anyone who served in WW2 even if they transferred services or served in the Home Guard"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think we should have that in big letters somewhere!

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Discovered photos of the R D Foster and A D H Foster:

Peterborough and Hunts Standard 19-8-1916.

FosterBros6thLincs.jpg

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Hi Michael,

Any chance of a clearer copy of that file entry?

Archivist

officeoldwestbrookians (at) gmail.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 16 years later...
On 13/09/2006 at 16:30, Stebie9173 said:

This may be him:

LG 21-2-1917

INFANTRY.

E. Kent R. Temp. 2nd Lt. A. D. H. Foster, from attd., to be temp. 2nd Lt. 29th Sept. 1914.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

The date ties in with that of his commission. Do you have the Gazette entry for that?

LG 9-4-1915

The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants.

Arthur Derrick Huthersall Foster. (Dated 29th September, 1914.)

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

LG 24-12-1917

The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. Lts.: —

E. Kent R.

A. D. H. Foster. 4th Aug. 1915.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

LG 30-8-1918

Air Ministry,

30th August, 1918.

ROYAL AIR FORCE.

TECHNICAL BRANCH.

The undermentioned are granted temp, commns. as 2nd Lts.: —

1st Aug. 1918.

A. D. H. Foster (temp. Lt., E. KentR.), and to be Hon. Lt.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

LG 17-11-1921

INFANTRY.

Service Battalions.

The Buffs.

Temp. Lt. A.. D. H. Foster-resigns his commission on appt. to a commission in the R.A.F. 1 Aug. 1918.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

If so this may be his MIC:

Medal card of Foster, A D

Corps Regiment No Rank

Hampshire Regiment Lieutenant

East Kent Regiment Lieutenant

Royal Air Force Temporary Captain

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=6

This man appears to be a Squadron Leader by 1937:

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

He became a flying officer in January 1926. (Times)

Promoted Flt. Lt in 1936 and moved to RAF Station, Hawkinge - 29-7-1936 (Times)

Engaged to Margaret Leresche in 1936 (Times)

Steve.

 

20240328_124657.jpg

20240328_124448.jpg

20240328_124456.jpg

Arthur Derrick Huthersall Foster was the brother of the headmaster of my school. His bio is included in my book on the school. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...