Edward Foster ["Tales of the V.C."], item 2

• December 22, 2016 23:36:14 Sue Bryant

   

  Tales of the V.C

   

  Cpl. Edward Foster

  By Lieut. J.P. Lloyd

  13^th East Surrey

   

  This is the story of how a n English soldier of a London Regiment, with

  the help of a comrade, attacked a German trench, captured two

  German machine-guns, and killed their crews.

  At daybreak on the morning of the 24^th of April ,1917, the

  13^th battalion of the East Surreys advanced against the

  German positions near the village of VILLERS PLOOICH.

  The company on the right was held up by two machineguns

  gave firing from a trench in front of the villagers. Protected

  by a thick belt of barbed wire the two guns swept the

  lands of the attackers from end to end.  Under such a

  hail of death it was impossible to advance.

  Then, when it seemed as if the attack must fail, Cpl Edward

  Foster and a Lance-Corporal of his Company volunteered to make an

  attempt to silence the machine-guns.  Armed each with a Lewis

  gun and some bombs the two men jumped to their feet, and

  rushed across the open ground towards the German trench.

  they had reached the entanglements almost before the enemy

  had realized that the desperate enterprise had begun.

  Under a storm of rifle and machine gun fire the gallant

  pair forced their way through the wire, and jumped down into

  the trench against the Germans.

  hopelessly outnumbers as they were, the two Englishmen proved

  more than a match for their enemies.  Luck was not with

  them at the first, as the Lance-Corporal’s gun jammed, and

  before he could free the stoppage, the Germans were upon

  him.  They swarmed them down the trench, thinking

• December 22, 2016 22:54:52 Sue Bryant

   

   
  

  --TALES OF THE V.C.—

   
  

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

   
  

  Corporal Edward Foster, 13th East Surreys.

   
  

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

   
  

  By Lieutenant J.P. Lloyd

   
  

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

   
  

   

    

   
  

  This is the story of how a soldier of a London Regiment, with

  the help of a comrade, attacked a German trench, captured two

  German machine-guns, and killed their crews.

  at daybreak on the morning of the 24th of April 1917, the

  13th battalion of the East Surreys advanced against the

  German positions near the village of VILLERS PLOOICH.

  the company on the right was held up by two watchmen

  gave firing from a trench in front of the villagers. Protected 

  by a thick bolt of barbed wire the two guns swept the

  lands of the attackers from end to end.  Under such a

  hail of death it was impossible to advance.

   
  

  Then, when it seemed as if the attack must fail, Cpl Edward

  Foster and a Lance-Corporal of his Company volunteered to make an

  attempt to silence the machine-guns.  Armed each with a Lewis

  gun and some bombs the two men jumped to their feet, and

  rushed across the open ground towards the German trench.

  they had reached the entanglements almost before the [?]

  had realized that the desperate enterprise had begun.

  under a storm of rifle and machine gun fire the gallant

  pain forced their way through the wire, and jumped down into

  the trench against the Germans.

   Hopelessly outnumbers as they were, the two Englishmen proved

  there no match for their entrance.  Luck was not with

  them at the first, as the Lance-Corporal’s gun jammed, and

  before he could free the stoppage, the Germans were upon 

  him.  They swarmed them down the trench, thinking

   

  
  

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