Description
British War Medal, GV, Major Charles La Trobe Foster O.B.E. Army Service Corps, joined up from Argentina to serve in Gallipoli
Major Charles La Trobe Foster O.B.E. 1888 – 1939
Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 16th January 1918, Page 935
Awarded O.B.E. London Gazette, 5th June 1919.
“The following despatch has been received by the Secretary of State for War from General Sir. E.H.H. Allenby, GCB, GCMG, Commander in Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, dated 5th March 1919.
Sir, I have the honour to forward herewith a list of Officers, Nurses, Other Ranks and Civilians whom I consider worthy of mention for their services during the period from the 19th September 1918, to the 31st January 1919,
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, E.H.H. ALlenby, General, Commander in Chief, E.E.F.”
OBE for service with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, from 19th September 1918 to 31st January 1919.
This began on 19th September 1918, with the great breakthrough in Egypt, on this day the infantry broke through at Sharon, forcing the Turkish Army form the sea, then General Chauvel’s Desert Mounted Corps poured in through the gap.
They then rode up for coast for 30 miles capturing Haifa, and blocking the Turkish retreat at Megiddo.
During this period they caused the collapse of the Ottoman forces and it allowed General Allenby to execute a clean sweep through Syria, Damascus fell on 1st October, then Aleppo on 23rd October.
By the end of the month, the Turks thoroughly defeated in Egypt (Mesopotamia) and under pressure at Salonika sued for peace.
During this month, Allenby’s force had advanced 350 miles whilst taking 75000 prisoners, with the loss of 5000 men.
Born in Norbury Surrey, during 1888, the son of Arthur La Trobe Foster and Amy Constance Carter.
Joining the Merchant Navy as a young man, he became a Second Mate earning his certificate of competency on 17th May 1909.
Before the war, he had ended up in Argentina, where he volunteered to serve in the Great War, the Roll of Honour noting him on a list of Britains who volunteered for service from Argentina.
Beginning as a Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps, he landed in Gallipoli on 20th May 1915.
He moved up the ranks to Major by the end of the war, after Gallipoli he moved on to Egypt, where he would earn a Mention in Despatches in January 1918 followed by earning the OBE at the end of the year.
Promoted from Temporary Captain to Acting Major on 25th March 1918.
He would end the war as a Major and be decorated with the OBE, Officers of the Order of the British Empire.
He then married Janet Eileen Anne Boothby in Paddington, London on 30th August 1919.
The newly wed couple then set off for Argentina, where they lived many years.
He returned to work as a Farmer in Argentina, requesting his medals be posted to him at: “Estancia Los Toldos, Hale F.C. Sud, Argentina Republic.”
They spent the 1920s and 1930s in Argentina before finally returning back to live in England by 1939.
He died on 29th June 1939 living in Leicester, Leicestershire.
