Foster, John

Private Jobn Foster.

1Royal Scots.

1915 - December 2.

On Saturday, 4th December 1915, the remains of Private JOHN FOSTER, 3/8th Royal Scots, who died of pneumonia in Morelands Red Cross Hospital, Peebles, after a week's illness, were interred in Peebles Cemetery with military honours. The cortege, as it wended its way from the hospital at Tweed Green to the cemetery through the streets,

preceded by a firing party and the Pipe Band and Silver Band of the 3/8th Royal Scots, attracted much attention, and made a most impressive and solemn spectacle. The coffin, wrapped in a large Union Jack, was borne on a hearse, which was followed by relatives and a large number of the public and B Company of the 3/8th, to which company the deceased was attached.

At the cemetery a short service was conducted by the Rev. J. H. Watt, M.A., S. Peter's Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Dr Martin, Peebles Parish Church, the latter of whom was Chaplain to the troops at Peebles. The service

was concluded by the firing-party firing three volleys over the open grave and the bugle sounding the "Last Post,"

Private Foster, who was 34 years of age, was a mason to trade.  He was called-up as a Territorial at the beginning of the war, and went to France with the 1/8th Royal Scots on 2nd November 1914.  Shortly thereafter he was invalided home suffering from rheumatism.  Sometime later he was attached to the 2/8th Royal Scots, then to the 3/8th Royal Scots.  Private Foster, who resided at 41 Northgate, Peebles, was survived by his widow and young family of four boys and one girl, whose ages ranged from 2 years to 14 years. He was the second eldest son of Arthur Foster, 59 Northgate, Peebles, a mason with the North British Railway Company. Deceased was one of four brothers who were members of the Royal Scots -- Tom and Nicholas (both privates) in the   1/8th, and Arthur, a Corporal, in the 2/8th.

I never stand above a beir and see

The seal of death set on some well-loved face

But that I think  "One more to welcome me

When I shall cross the intervening space

Between this land and that one over there,

One more to make the strange 'Beyond' seem fair."

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 1 - Pages 126 and 127

Name: FOSTER, JOHN

Initials: J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Scots

Unit Text: 8th Bn.

Age: 35

Date of Death: 02/12/1915

Service No: 7470

Additional information: Son of Arthur and Margaret Foster; husband of Julia Hay Foster, of Fetter

Esk Cottage, Penicuik, Midlothian. Born at Peebles.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 2773.

Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY