Edward Foster (VC)

Edward Foster VC (4 January 1886 – 22 January 1946) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Foster was 31 years old, and a corporal in the 13th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 24 April 1917 at Villers-Plouich, Nord, France, during an attack, the advance was held up in a portion of the village by two machine-guns which were entrenched and strongly covered by wire entanglements. Corporal Foster who was in charge of two Lewis guns succeeded in entering the trench and engaged the enemy guns. One of the Lewis guns was lost, but the corporal rushed forward, bombed the enemy and recovered the gun. Then, getting his two guns into action, he killed the enemy gun team and captured their guns.

Foster was also awarded the Médaille Militaire by France.

The Medal
His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.