Sgt. Sheldon Addison Foster - Medal of Bravery for an Underage Serviceman

Born: December 8, 1898 - Fredericton, New Brunswick

Enlistment: March 1916 – St. John, New Brunswick

Sheldon Addison Foster, son of Howard Addington Foster, 5th CMR, was a single, shoemaker at time of his enlistment. He first attempted to enlist in Fredericton, New Brunswick, after his Father enlisted in 1915, but was turned away because he was only 17 years old at the time – you had to be 18 to enlist.

His second attempt to enlist was in St. John, New Brunswick in March of 1916 and, this time, he lied about his age, saying he was already 18 years old, and was accepted. Attestation papers were filled out for the CEF on March 14, 1916 and he was assigned to the 140th Battalion under Regimental Identification Number 817946.

The 140th Battalion sailed on the SS Corsican from Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 25, 1916 and arrived in Liverpool, England on October 6, 1916. On January 1, 1917, he transferred from the 140th Battalion to the 7th Canadian Reserve Battalion; and shortly thereafter, on January 26, 1917, transferred again to the 13th Canadian Reserve Battalion.

His final transfer was on May 4, 1917, from the 13th Canadian Reserve Battalion to the 2nd Canadian Division, 5th Canadian Brigade, 26th New Brunswick Battalion.

On May 7, 1917, 26th New Brunswick Battalion landed in France. A month later, they were assigned to field duty, taking an active part in the war. It is noted on Sheldon’s military record that, on September 15, 1918, he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. There’s no record of when, where, or what he did to receive this award.

On October 8, 1918, North-East of Cambrai, the 26th New Brunswick Battalion advanced from Escaudoeuvres toward Naves, and, it was during this campaign, that Sheldon was struck by shrapnel, leaving an open wound of a four-inch by one-inch gash in his upper left arm. Sheldon remained in the hospital recovering from his wounds until December 20th, 1918.

Sheldon returned to Canada on May 14th, 1919, sailing on the SS Caronia. A couple weeks later, in St. John, New Brunswick, he was discharged from the CEF at the rank of Sergeant at 20 years, five months and two weeks old. His last known military activity was with the 7th Canadian Reserve Battalion in Toronto, Ontario from January 9th to February 17th, 1922.