Life story shared by Paul Beecroft
IN GOD’S KEEPING
THOMAS EDWARD HENRY FOSTER
WHO DIED JULY 25TH 1925
AGED 53 YEARS
ALSO
KATE ELIZA
DEARLY LOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED NOVEMBER 14TH 1948
AGED 71 YEARS
RE-UNITED
Thomas Edward Henry FOSTER was born in Remenham, a parish in Berkshire on the border of Oxfordshire in 1872. He was the eldest son of Edward FOSTER and Mary FOSTER (nee MARTIN).
In 1881 the census shows the family living at No. 3 Cottage, Remenham Lane, Remenham. Thomas is nine years old. His siblings are George Joel, aged six years, and William, aged two years.
In 1891 the family have moved and are resident at Barn Elms Farm in Bradfield. George and William are now 16 and 13 years old. Thomas by now is 19 years old. He is most likely employed but no occupation is shown on the census.
On 6th July 1892, Thomas joined the Army. His Attestation Form shows that he joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was 20 years and 4 months old, and his occupation was that of labourer. From the time he joined until March 1895 he was in England and was then sent to Bermuda, remaining there until December 1895. He was then posted to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He left Halifax in October 1897 and went to the West Indies. After many years away, Thomas finally arrived back in England on 19th November 1898. In July 1899, he was placed on the army reserve list.
On 15th November 1899, in a ceremony at Portsea Island, Portsmouth, Thomas married Kate Eliza HARDY. Their marriage would result in the birth of 9 children – Albert (1901), Thomas (1903), Ellen (1905), Arthur Frederick (1907), Lucy (1910), William Edward (1911), Stanley David (1912), Alfred (1913), Robert Charles (1915) and Kathleen Joyce (1919).
Less than two months after marrying, he was called up by the army and was sent to South Africa due to the Boer War. He did not return home until 27th September 1902, and he was then demobilised but remained on the reserve list until 1904. Thomas was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps – Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal and also the King’s South Africa medal with clasps 1901-1902.
After leaving the army, the family moved to Reading and Thomas was employed as a Labourer with Reading Borough Council. In about 1905 Thomas also joined the Borough Fire Brigade although this was not full time.
The census for 1911 shows the family living at 59, Sherman Road, Reading, along with 5 of his children. Thomas’s occupation is confirmed as a General Labourer with the Borough Council.
By 1913, the family have left Sherman Road and are now living at 39, Flint Street, Reading. Flint Street no longer exists but was located in the area where the civic buildings were built.
Over the course of some twenty years Thomas must have attended many fires. Fire fighting was and still is a dangerous job as Thomas and his colleagues found out on 25th July 1925. A full report was printed in The Reading Standard on Saturday August 1st:
DIED WHILST DOING HIS DUTY
Reading Fireman’s Heroic End
Mr. T.R. Kent (Deputy Borough Coroner) held an inquiry on Monday into the circumstances attending the death of Thomas Edward Henry Foster, aged 53, of 39, Flint Street, Reading. A member of the Reading Fire Brigade for nearly twenty years and a Corporation labourer, deceased on Friday night went with the Brigade to a hay rick fire in a meadow in Bath Road, Calcot. While on top of the rick he suddenly collapsed. Artificial respiration was applied by Sergt. Hobson, assisted by members of the borough and county police forces, but it proved unavailing.
Evidence of identification was given by the widow, who said she last saw her husband alive on Friday night, when he appeared to be quite well and happy. At 10.23 he received a call to a fire in the Bath Road and left to join the Brigade. Early the next morning she was told of his death. Generally speaking his health had always been very good, although about ten years ago he had an attack of muscular rheumatism.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Dr. G.H.R. Holden, of 8, Bath Road, said that he was called to the deceased at about a quarter past one o’clock on Saturday. Artificial respiration was being applied by the police and he directed that this should be continued. This, however, proved unavailing. The post mortem examination revealed evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning, which, witness explained had arisen from chemical action due to a combination of fire and water. Whilst standing on the top of the rick, the deceased probably got a big and sudden dose of gas fumes and it affected his brain. Death must have been almost instantaneous. Witness added that he wished to say that the artificial respiration treatment was most efficiently applied.
The Coroner: I quite agree; the police are very expert at that.
Charles Tarry, of 33, Soho Street, a labourer employed by the Corporation and a member of the Reading Fire Brigad,e said he was present at the rick fire with Engineer West and the deceased. The latter, who was on top of the rick working the hose, suddenly shouted out something and shortly afterwards fell face downwards. Engineer West and witness brought him down the ladder and placed him on the ground. Artificial respiration was applied, and medical aid was summoned.
Engineer West, who said he was in charge of the Brigade in the absence on leave of the Chief Officer, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, adding that when he went to the deceased after he had fallen, he saw no sign of life in him. Deceased had always taken a great interest in his work as a fireman and whenever there was a fire was always at the forefront. He was a man of very jovial disposition. Replying to the Coroner, witness said there was a tremendous lot of smoke issuing from the rick.
The Coroner’s Tribute
The Coroner, recording a verdict of “Accidental death,” said that at the time, the deceased was overcome by the fumes he was apparently discharging his duty in a most efficient manner. Mr. Foster was evidently an excellent servant of the Corporation, both as a labourer and fireman, and was a great favourite. His death was the sort of end that might overtake anyone engaged in the hazardous duties of a fireman. It should be a consolation to the widow, to whom he expressed his warmest sympathy in her loss, to know that her husband had died doing his duty. He wished also to express his appreciation of the services rendered by the police in the matter of applying artificial respiration.
Mr. Illiffe, on behalf of the Corporation, associated himself with the Coroner’s sentiments and said that the Watch Committee deeply regretted the sad occurrence.
The Funeral
The interment took place on Tuesday afternoon, when thousands of people watched the procession which passed from Flint Street, through St. Mary’s Butts, to the Broad Street Congregational Church, where a brief service was conducted by the Rev. W. Morton Rawlinson, and from there through King’s Road to the Reading Cemetery. The funeral procession was headed by detachments of the Reading Borough Police (under Inspector Osborne) and of the Fire Brigade (in charge of Engineer West). The coffin, which was draped in the Union Jack bore the late Mr. Foster’s helmet and axe. The Rev. W.M. Rawlinson also conducted the committal service at the graveside.
Kate remained living in Reading until she passed away in 1948 and was buried with her husband in Reading Old Cemetery.
Division 15, Row L, Plot 6