Harry Wickwire Foster
| Harry Wickwire Foster | |
|---|---|
Harry Foster c. 1944
|
|
| Born |
2 April 1902 Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Died | 16 August 1964 (aged 62) |
| Buried at | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Allegiance |
 Canada
|
| Service/branch |
 Canadian Army
|
| Years of service | 1924–1952 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands held |
7th Infantry Brigade 1st Infantry Division 4th Armoured Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in dispatches Silver Star (United States) Legion of Merit (United States) Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) |
Major General Harry Wickwire Foster CBE, DSO (April 2, 1902 – August 6, 1964) was a senior Canadian Army officer who commanded two Canadian divisions during World War II. He served in both the Pacific and European theatres.
Born in Halifax, he was the son of Major General Gilbert Lafayette Foster, who had been the director general of the medical services of the First World War. Foster was educated at King’s College at Windsor, Nova Scotia as a cadet. He attended school at Berkhamsted, England; Bishop's College School in Lennoxville, Quebec; Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario; and McGill University, Montreal.
Having failed his third year, but with a Certificate of Military Qualification (which all cadets earned when they finished two full years at RMC) Foster withdrew from RMC to receive the King's commission and a posting to the Permanent Force (PF) with Lord Strathcona's Horse on July 2, 1924. As a young officer, he spent considerable time in debt: the army paid only for saddle, harness, and stabling. He had to pay for his own horse (which cost nearly a month’s salary) and for mess, uniforms, and tailoring.
By 1934 he held the rank of captain. He attended the Staff College, Camberley, from 1937 to 1939 and was promoted to major and posted as brigade major of 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade at the outbreak of the Second World War.
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