Corporal Edward Foster VC, 13th Battalion The East Surrey Regiment.

When asked about his Victoria Cross by a Daily Express newshound in 1937, 'Tiny' Foster, ex-corporal of the 13th East Surreys, exclaimed 'My VC. I want to forget it. But it did me a bit of good all the same. I was made a dustman before the war and the VC made me an Inspector, so I'm glad I got it.' Ever contented with his lot in life, the big man continued, 'I'm quite happy in my job, with bit o'gardening, bit o'pictures and bit o'football.'

Edward 'Tiny' Foster was a South Londoner, born and bred. After a rudimentary local education he was employed by Wandsworth Borough Council and, following the outbreak of the Great War he responded to the call and volunteered for the 13th Service Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment composed almost entirely of local men. The Battalion soon became known as the 'Wandsworth Regulars', and 'Tiny' Foster, at nigh on six foot two and twenty odd stone, quickly became a familiar and, no doubt respected, member of the battalion. After training in Southern England, the 13th East Surreys arrived in France on 3rd June 1916, and went into the trenches opposite Lens, north of Albert. Later, the battalion moved to the Somme Valley and was in the front line near Bouchavesnes, when the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line commenced in the Spring of 1917. It was in April, during the capture of Villers Plouich, in front of the Hindenburg Line, that 'Tiny' won his Victoria Cross. His citation is shown above.

His gallantry was also recognised by the French who awarded him the Medaille Militaire. On 21st July, he was decorated in the forecourt at Buckingham Palace by King George V. 'Tiny's' battalion went on to see a good deal more fighting and was later heavily engaged in the Battle of Cambrai, where it was involved in the action at Bourlon Village. In 1918, the 'Wandsworth Regulars' suffered devastating losses in the Battle of Lys and were surrounded at Fleurbaix.

After the war, 'Tiny' was elevated by a grateful Council to the post of Dusting Inspector, and became a familiar figure on his rounds of Wandsworth, Putney and Roehampton. On Armistice Day 1920, he was one of the VC's present at the burial of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. Over the years he attended various reunions and other events, including the VC Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 1920 and the VC Dinner at the House of Lords in 1929. It is not uninteresting to note that as an active member of the British Legion, he was one of the three VC's who turned out to support the County Rally of the Legion at Guildford in 1932. 'Modest and unassuming', 'Tiny' Foster, 'a big man with a big heart' died suddenly on 22nd January 1946.