| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Robert enlisted in Hull in 1912 in the 2nd Dragoon Guards, (Queens Bays), aged 20. His army service record states he was born in Beverley, he was working as a waiter in Leeds and that his name was Charles Stead. It also records that he deserted from the barracks at Aldershot within a year.
At the outbreak of war Robert immediately enlisted again, this time at Birmingham under the name of Robert Foster and with the Kings Royal Rifles. Within his first month’s service he is discharged as being medically unfit. The service record says he is flat footed and cannot walk or run any distance. A day later on 24 Sep 1914 Robert’s flat feet do not deter him from enlisting with the Royal Warwick Regiment and he remains with them for most of the war. In Jul 1915 Private 7897 Foster arrived in France with the 11th Battalion which entitled him to the 1915 Star together with the British and Victory medals, he was promoted to Lance Corporal over the following months. However his past caught up with him in March 1916 when he had to admit to being a deserter Charles Stead after receiving a warning for the draft. The army dispensed with a trial but he was demoted back to Private and deductions made from his pay.
In Jan 1917 Robert married Avis Jane Hamshere at St Peters Church, Leicester. Later that year he transferred to 4th Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers before returning to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, finally being discharged in Feb 1919.
Nearly all that is known about Robert comes from his 3 Army service records. There is no register of birth for either Robert Foster or a Charles Stead in Beverley in Apr 1892. He doesn’t seem to appear on any Census record. Other than a marriage certificate for Robert and Avis there is no trace of the couple other than that Avis signed for Robert’s medals in 1922.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |