Thomas Foster

Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), 2nd/6th Battalion

Thomas Foster was 15 years old at the time of the 1911 Census, having been born in the year 1896, and he lived at 42 Long Lane, Harden, with his father Jonathan, mother Hannah, sister Christianna (aged 17) and brother James (aged 11). Thomas was employed as a ‘jobber boy’ (or pieceworker) in the local worsted mills.

Thomas became Private 266108 of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), 2nd/6th Battalion. On 22nd July 1918, The Keighley News lists Thomas under ‘Heroes of the Great Advance’ on page 5, citing ‘Private T Foster, Bingley – wounded’. By the time of his death from his wounds on 8th November 1919, Thomas’ family had moved up the road to 49 Long Lane, Harden.

Thomas is buried in Bingley Cemetery

Bingley Cemetery

This is between the Keighley road and the River Aire. It was opened in 1870, and it belongs to the “Burial Board for the Parishes of Bingley and Holy Trinity, Bingley.”

There are 28 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war and a further 17 of the 1939-1945 war here.

Read more about the cemetery on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s website.