TOPIC:

I am looking for information about Jack Foster. He was married to Martha Mary Ranger (date and place unknown) from Shaftesbury, Dorset. He died in South Africa in 1900-1901 and Martha returned to the UK in Feb 1901 with her daughter May.
Jack may not have been a soldier. There is only 1 photo of him, copy attached. Gwen.

Hello Gwen and welcome to the Forum.

As you might expect, there are quite a few J Fosters listed on the medal rolls.

I am thinking that he may not have been a soldier because he had his wife and daughter with him. Like many men in the 1890s, he may have travelled to South Africa for work.

Do you have any information on his place or date of death?

Kind regards
David

Hello David,
Thanks for reply. The only info on Jack is that he was my grandmothers first husband,
this is proved. I can find no records of either him or his wife going to S A. Maybe he lived there already. He looks quite old so maybe married before. This is a big mystery, tried talking to Masons (as he is obviously one) but they won't talk to me at all!!!

But - the story is that he was killed in the War?!!!

Regards Gwen

Gwen,

On the casualty lists, there are 4 J Fosters all of whom died of disease.

Leader J Foster, Imperial Hospital Corps, 9 Aug 1900
1519 Pte J Foster, Manchester Regiment, 23 May 1902
2566 Pte J Foster, Royal Warwickshire Regt, 7 Jun 1900
5142 Pte Drummer J Foster, South Staffordshire Regiment, 4 May 1901

If his wife returned to England in Feb 01 and we presume he was not with an Imperial unit and did served in the Boer War, the first name is a possibility?

Regards
David