URGENT REQUEST FROM HARRY ELLIS OF SSAFA

Re: War Pensions Appeal - Alfred 'George' FOSTER

As will be seen I am the Divisional Secretary for S.S.A.F.A., I am also the Staff Visitor for the Metropolitan Society for the Blind in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.  Mr. Foster became a client of the M.S.B. last year when he became blind in his left eye.  He lost sight in his right eye whilst serving with 23rd Indian Division, part of the 14th Army.  He served in this area from 1943 to 1946.

Ex Sergeant Foster was not aware that he was entitled to a War Pension.  Unfortunately there was no record of the injury on his service record and I am currently trying to trace witnesses to the incident which led to the loss of his sight.

Page 7 of issue 140 of Dekho! gives fuller details of this matter together with a list of Mr. Foster's former army colleagues( click here for names ).

I wonder if you could put out an appeal for any persons having knowledge of this incident.  It is likely that without some independent information, this War Pensions Appeal will fail.

Thanking you for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely

Harry Ellis
Tel: 01626 862858
Mobile: 07974 210957
e-mail: harry.ellis@amserve.net

THE DEKHO! ENTRY:-

Urgent: Does anyone remember serving with Alfred 'George' Foster on the Thai/Cambodian border in August 1946?  George was a sergeant serving with the REME attached to the 23rd Indian Division.
In August 1946 or thereabouts, Sgt Foster was returning to Bangkok in an army vehicle having carried out repairs to a number of military vehicles at a hospital on the Thai/Cambodian border.  He swerved to avoid a child and went off the road suffering an injury resulting in the loss of the sight in his right eye.  In the vehicle was an unidentified Australian working for the War Graves Commission.
Sgt Foster recalls the following who served with him in Bangkok at that time: Sgt Jack Nielson, Cpl Downs (he relieved Sgt Foster whilst he was off duty with his injuries), Cpl Bill Green, Cpl Ronald Harris (formerly of 27 Dimmock Road, Fulham who worked in the Fulham area after the war), Capt Parsons (who gave the order to go to the hospital), Major Edmunds, Capt McDonald and Capt White.
Witnesses to this accident are urgently being sought to help in a War Pensions dispute. Any replies to either Rowena Patrick at HQ or to Harry Ellis (details above)