William FOSTER

Regimental number9/698
Date of birth25 May 1888
Place of birthDunedin
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationLabourer
AddressTarras, Otago
Marital statusSingle
Height6' 0.5"
Weight173 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs C Foster, Lowburn Ferry, Cromwell, Otago
Enlistment date20 October 1914
Place of enlistmentDunedin
Rank on embarkationTrooper
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment, 2nd Reinforcements
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 14 December 1914
Members of the 2nd Reinforcements, Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment, departed on board three ships: HMNZT 13 'Verdala', HMNZT 14 'Willochra', and HMNZT 15 'Knight of the Garter'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankTrooper
Final unitOtago Mounted Rifles Regiment
FateDied of disease 16 November 1915
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialPieta Military Cemetery (Plot D, Row V, Grave No 5), Malta
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records		Parents: Christina Foster, Lowburn Ferry, Cromwell, Central Otago, and the late Edward Foster
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 9/1168 Driver Henry FOSTER, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, New Zealand Field Artillery, died of disease, 16 December 1916; 8/137 Pte Robert FOSTER, Otago Infantry Regiment, killed in action, 4 August 1915.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Admitted to NZ Field Ambulance, 13 August 1915 (pleurisy); transferred to Base Hospital, Anzac, 13 August 1915; transferred by HS 'Salta' to Malta, and admitted to hospital, 17 August 1915 ('seriously ill': debility); listed as 'dangerously ill' (debility and pleurisy), 12 October 1915.

Died of interior bronchial pneumonia, 16 November 1915.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Otago Mounted Rifles/Second
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805