Gilbert Lafayette Foster CB MD (1871 - 1940)

Born 29 May 1871 in Aylesford, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Thompson (Wickwire) Foster — married 13 Jun 1901 in Canning, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada

Husband of Agnes Henrietta (Roop) Foster — married Jan 1938 in Marylebone, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 17 May 1940 at age 68 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Biography

Gilbert Foster CB MD is Notable.

Major-General Foster was the director general of the medical services during the First World War.

Son of George Foster and Charlotte Foster

Buried 20 May 1940 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Kentville, Kings Co., N.S.

Oak Grove Cemetery, Kentville Foster, Gilbert Lafayette, Major General C.B. MD FRS., LLD, Legion of Honor DGMS for Canada in Great War - b. St Marys 1871, d. Wolfville 1940; his wife Jane Thompson Wickwire, b. Canning 1875 - d. Wolfville 1936, son James Anthony, b. Winnipeg 1932. (Research):www.novascotiagenealogy.com Death: Registration Year: 1871 - Book: 1816 - Page: 136 - Number: 226

wikipedia.com (accessed 15 Nov 2015) Major-General G.L. Foster KStJ, CB, MD, LLD, MD (29 May 1874 - 17 May 1940) was the 6th Canadian Surgeon General.

Born in King's County, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Gilbert L. was educated at New York Medical College, where he graduated with a Medical Degree in 1896.

After graduation, Foster took up general practice in both Canning and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also joined "the Canadian Militia as Surgeon-Lieutenant of the 68th (King's County) Regiment." From 1898 to 1900 Foster served in the Yukon Field Force "(during [the] South African Campaign)." He was promoted to Captain in 1901 and Major the following year.

In 1905, Foster "joined the joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps [known as Permanent Active Militia Medical Corps (referred to as PAMC during WWI)]", and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1907.

With the outbreak of war, he was sent "overseas in 1914 as the assistant director of medical services", and was promoted to Colonel the following year.

In 1917, Foster was promoted to Major-General and appointed Director of Medical Services (Army) (later known as Surgeon General). He remained in the position until his retirement from the military in 1921. At which time, Foster returned to Nova Scotia, living the remainder of his life in the Annapolis Valley.

His son, Major-General Harry Wickwire Foster, had a distinguished career within the army, including "[presiding] over the court martial of Canada's top prisoner of war, SS General Kurt Meyer."

Major-General Foster died 17 May 1940 at the age of 65.

Sources

• Gilbert Lafayette Foster and Janie Thompson Wickwire married in 1901 at Kings County; Registration: Year: 1901 book: 1827 page: 57 number: 40: https://archives.novascotia.ca/vital-statistics/marriage/?ID=106668
• Albert[Gilbert] Foster, Age 40, Susie[Janie] Foster, Age 33, Jessie Befal, Age 33, Harry Foster, Age 9, Gilbert Foster, Age 6, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1911 Census of Canada
• Gilbert Foster, Age 56, Janie Foster, Age 46, Harry Foster, Age 19, Gilbert Foster, Age 16, at Kentville, Kings County, Nova Scotia, in 1921 Census of Canada:
• Gilbert Lafayette Foster death at Wolfville, Kings County on May 17, 1940; Male Death Registration: Year: 1940 file: 181 number: 616: https://archives.novascotia.ca/vital-statistics/death/?ID=295179
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/136554029/gilbert-lafayette-foster : accessed 13 December 2021), memorial page for Maj Gilbert Lafayette Foster (1871–1940), Find A Grave: Memorial #136554029, citing Oak Grove Cemetery, Kentville, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada ; Maintained by eaglehart (contributor 47212679) .
• Gilbert Lafayette Foster; Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Lafayette_Foster

• "Obituaries" (PDF). CMAJ 43 (1): 88. 1948. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
• Adami, J. George (1918). War Story of the Canadian Army Medical Corps: Volume I: The First Contingent (to the Autumn of 1915). Canada: The Candian War Records Office. p. note 89. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
• MacPhail, Sir Andrew (1925). The Medical Services (PDF). Canada: Department of National Defence. p. 199. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
• "Harry Wickwire Foster". Wikipedia. Retrieved 6 May 2015.