December 1955 he had finally to retire from the active scene. Wing Commander Foster had a wife, Edith, and two children, Harold and Betty - his home remained at Stockcross until the end of his life, when he was taken to the Battle Hospital in Reading after a long fight against Parkinson's disease. He died there on 5 March 1963, aged 75. Navy career 22 June 1903 - Volunteered 23 June 1903 - Boy 2nd Class, HMS Impregnable 21 January 1904 - Boy 1st Class 1 September 1904 - Signal Boy, HMS Hercules 22 November 1904 - HMS Sutlej 25 January 1905 - HMS Iphigenia 27 April 1905 - Signalman (signed up for 12 years service) 20 August 1905 - HMS Hogue 9 November 1905 - Qual. Sig. 13 February 1906 - HMS Tamar 13 March 1907 - HMS Spartiate 14 May 1907 - HMS Victory 1 October 1907 - Signalman 15 December 1907 - HMS Grafton 1 April 1908 - Leading Signalman 27 September 1908 - HMS Victory 7 January 1909 - HMS Hawke 1 March 1909 - HMS Tamar (Otter) 1 April 1909 - HMS King Alfred 1 October 1909 - HMS Tamar (Otter) 1 April 1910 - HMS Minotaur 16 August 1910 - HMS Tamar (Otter) 1 April 1911 - HMS Crescent 22 June 1911 - HMS Victory 28 January 1912 - HMS Arrogant 30 April 1912 - HMS Crescent 14 May 1912 - HMS Orontes (Albatross) 1 July 1912 - HMS Egmont 15 November 1913 - HMS Victory 1 October 1914 - Yeoman of Signals 23 October 1914 - HMS Emperor of India 19 June 1916 - Acting Signal Boatswain 19 October 1916 - HMS Superb (1st Battle Squadron) 11 August 1917 - Signal Boatswain (Available naval records stop here) RAF career 27 July 1918 - Appointed Second Lieutenant Observer 22 December 1918 - Pilot Officer 6 May 1920 - Air Ministry 27 January 1920 - Promoted Observer Officer 15 July 1926 - Appointed Flying Officer (on abolition of title of Observer) 1 Nov 1928 - No.2 (Indian Wing) Station, Risalpur 19 June 1931 - Promoted Flight Lieutenant, General Duties Branch 30 June 1932 - HMS Courageous 1 July 1938 - Promoted Squadron Leader 24 April 1940 - Transferred to Technical Branch 1 December 1940 - Promoted Wing Commander (temporary) - placed on retired list and re-employed with RAF 11 November 1945 - Reverted to retired