QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA 1899, 4 CLASPS ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902, ‘4373 SERGT MAJOR E.J. FOSTER, 7TH N. Z’LAND M.R.’, NUMBER AND RANK RE-ENGRAVED, BRITISH WAR MEDAL ‘7/1805 SJT. E. J. FOSTER. N.Z.E.F.’G THE HEROIC DEFENCE BY 80 MEN OF THE 7TH CONTINGENT AT THE BATTLE OF LANGVERWACHT, 23/24 FEBRUARY 1902, 65 OF WHOM BECAME CASUALTIES. LEAVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE ACTION, HE WAS THE ONLY ONE OF 6 MEN IN HIS SECTION NOT KILLED OR WOUNDED

QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA 1899, 4 CLASPS ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902, ‘4373 SERGT MAJOR E.J. FOSTER, 7TH N. Z’LAND M.R.’, NUMBER AND RANK RE-ENGRAVED, BRITISH WAR MEDAL ‘7/1805 SJT. E. J. FOSTER. N.Z.E.F.’

Edmund Foster was born at Christchurch, New Zealand on 7 December 1879, educated at Sydenham School, and was working as a coach-painter and residing at New Brighton when he was accepted for service with the Seventh Contingent in April 1901. Edmund was promoted to corporal being embarking with 24 (Canterbury) Company on the Gulf of Taranto on 6th April 1901. During the heroic defence by 80 men of his unit of the lines at Langverwacht (also known as Bothasberg) in the Orange Free State on the 24 February 1902, Foster commanded a section of 5 men from his unit, all except him being killed or wounded.

58 Officers and men of the New Zealand Contingents were killed in action during the Boer War, 34 of this number being from the 7th New Zealand Mounted Rifles. A further 189 Officers and men were wounded in action or died of wounds, again, the brunt of the casualties falling on the 7th New Zealand Mounted Rifles with 73 coming from this unit. 65 of the 7th casualties were sustained at the Battle of Langverwacht.…….

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THE Q.S.A. MEDAL

The number and rank on the medal have been contemporary but unofficially re-engraved, giving him the rank of Sergeant Major. Further research may reveal the reason for him changing the rank but when issued, the medal would have had the rank of corporal, this confirmed on the medal roll. His B.W.M. has the rank of sergeant which has not been upgraded, which suggests the rank of Sergeant Major would have been pre WW1. The suspension claw has been tightened and the 1901 clasp has been unofficially rivetted to the Transvaal clasp as is common for date clasps which were issued loose.

Despite the change in rank on the medal, this is a very scarce medal to one of the section commanders at Langverwacht, especially one who left an account. Note: The Q.S.A. medal to Trooper Stevenson who was in Foster’s section at Langverwacht, and was killed during the action, is listed elsewhere on this website.