V FORCE Foster, Gretton Francis

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Foster
  • FORENAME
Gretton Francis
  • UNIT
V Force
  • RANK
A/Lieutenant Colonel
  • NUMBER
217359
  • AWARD
Distinguished Service Order
  • PLACE
Burma 1945
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Suffolk Regiment
born 26.1.1918 Coggeshall, Essex
son of M.E. and Mrs Foster, Stuart House, Coggeshall, Essex
educated Earls Colne Grammar School, Essex
Suffolk Regiment 1939
served in France 1940 (Lance Corporal)
commissioned 21.11.1941
1st Tribal Legion
SOE 1942-43 (Lt)
award M.C. (London Gazette 8.4.1943)
V Force 1943-45 (Captain - A/Lt Colonel)
farmer, Londiani, Kenya and Morayshire, Scotland
moved to Dorset 1970
employed with Edens (land agents)
married Evelyn Ann Knaggs 1952 (4 children)
died 26.7.2012 Sherborne, Dorset
 

CITATION:

Distinguished Service Order : ARKAN

Lt.Col. FOSTER has been in command of an operational intelligence unit throughout the period under review and took part in all operations from the capture of AKYAB up to the occupation of TAUNGUP. It was due to his untiring effort and personal example that enabled an intelligence screen to be maintained ahead of our advancing forces during this phase of the campaign. He was the first to enter TAUNGUP, himself leading a patrol behind enemy lines to ascertain their dispositions in the town. Prior to this Lt.Col. FOSTER was in command of a similar unit operating in the KALADAN valley. Here also operating under exceptionally difficult conditions, he successfully maintained his patrols behind the enemy's forward troops and was able to provided a constant flow of very valuable information.

Throughout Lt.Col. FOSTER has shown himself an outstanding an courageous leader and without personal regard has successfully carried out a very difficult task.

I strongly recommend him for the award of the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.

WEB LINKS:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7368015
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9563387/Lieutenant-Colonel-Gretton-Foster.html

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7368015
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