After graduation, Foster took up general practice in both Canning and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also joined "the Canadian Militia as Surgeon-Lieutenant of the 68th (King’s County) Regiment."[2] From 1898 to 1900 Foster served in the Yukon Field Force "(during [the] South African Campaign)."[2] He was promoted to Captain in 1901 and Major the following year.[2]
In 1905, Foster "joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps [known as Permanent Active Militia Medical Corps (referred to as PAMC during WWI)]",[2] and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1907.[2]
With the outbreak of war, he was sent overseas in 1914 as the Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services (D.A.D.M.S.) for the first Canadian Contingent.[1] He was soon promoted to Colonel and A.D.M.S. when Col. G.C. Jones was elevated to the overseas position of Director Medical Services Canadians. Foster accompanied the 1st Canadian Division to France in February 1915 and, upon arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division later that summer, was elevated to the new post of Deputy Director Medical Services (Canadian Corps), serving as the senior medical authority for the Canadian Corps in the field. In February 1917 he was promoted to replace Jones as Director Medical Services Canadians and was transferred to Canadian HQ in London.[3]
Remaining overseas until late 1919, Major-General Foster oversaw the repatriation of thousands of Canadian casualties who remained under medical care following the Armistice, the closure of Canadian hospitals in the U.K. and the demobilization of the C.E.F. medical service. Working side-by-side with the D.G.M.S., Maj.-Gen. J.T. Fotheringham, through 1920, he helped plan the re-organization of the post-war Canadian Army Medical Corps, and succeeded to the post of Director General Medical Services upon Fotheringham's retirement in September 1920, before retiring himself in Dec 1920. Upon leaving the military profession, Foster returned to Nova Scotia, living the remainder of his life in the Annapolis Valley.[1]
His son, Major-General Harry Wickwire Foster, had a distinguished career within the army, including "[presiding] over the court martial of Canada’s top prisoner of war, SS General Kurt Meyer."
^ abcdeAdami, J. George (1918). War Story of the Canadian Army Medical Corps: Volume I: The First Contingent (to the Autumn of 1915). Canada: The Canadian War Records Office. p. note 89. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
^MacPhail, Sir Andrew (1925). The Medical Services(PDF). Canada: Department of National Defence. p. 199. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
April 11, 2024
gilbert, lafayette, foster, major, general, foster, kstj, 1874, 1940, canadian, surgeon, general, born, 1874, 1874king, county, wolfville, nova, scotiadiedmay, 1940, 1940, aged, nationalitycanadianalma, maternew, york, medical, collegescientific, careerfieldss. Major General G L Foster KStJ CB MD LLD MD 29 May 1874 17 May 1940 was the 6th Canadian Surgeon General Gilbert Lafayette FosterBorn 1874 05 29 May 29 1874King s County Wolfville Nova ScotiaDiedMay 17 1940 1940 05 17 aged 65 NationalityCanadianAlma materNew York Medical CollegeScientific careerFieldsSurgeon GeneralInstitutionsRoyal Canadian Army Medical CorpsBorn in King s County Wolfville Nova Scotia Gilbert Lafayette Foster was educated at New York Medical College where he graduated with a Medical Degree in 1896 1 After graduation Foster took up general practice in both Canning and Halifax Nova Scotia He also joined the Canadian Militia as Surgeon Lieutenant of the 68th King s County Regiment 2 From 1898 to 1900 Foster served in the Yukon Field Force during the South African Campaign 2 He was promoted to Captain in 1901 and Major the following year 2 In 1905 Foster joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps known as Permanent Active Militia Medical Corps referred to as PAMC during WWI 2 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1907 2 With the outbreak of war he was sent overseas in 1914 as the Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services D A D M S for the first Canadian Contingent 1 He was soon promoted to Colonel and A D M S when Col G C Jones was elevated to the overseas position of Director Medical Services Canadians Foster accompanied the 1st Canadian Division to France in February 1915 and upon arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division later that summer was elevated to the new post of Deputy Director Medical Services Canadian Corps serving as the senior medical authority for the Canadian Corps in the field In February 1917 he was promoted to replace Jones as Director Medical Services Canadians and was transferred to Canadian HQ in London 3 Remaining overseas until late 1919 Major General Foster oversaw the repatriation of thousands of Canadian casualties who remained under medical care following the Armistice the closure of Canadian hospitals in the U K and the demobilization of the C E F medical service Working side by side with the D G M S Maj Gen J T Fotheringham through 1920 he helped plan the re organization of the post war Canadian Army Medical Corps and succeeded to the post of Director General Medical Services upon Fotheringham s retirement in September 1920 before retiring himself in Dec 1920 Upon leaving the military profession Foster returned to Nova Scotia living the remainder of his life in the Annapolis Valley 1 His son Major General Harry Wickwire Foster had a distinguished career within the army including presiding over the court martial of Canada s top prisoner of war SS General Kurt Meyer Foster died on 17 May 1940 at the age of 65 References edit a b c Obituaries CMAJ 43 1 88 1948 PMC 538054 a b c d e Adami J George 1918 War Story of the Canadian Army Medical Corps Volume I The First Contingent to the Autumn of 1915 Canada The Canadian War Records Office p note 89 Retrieved 6 May 2015 MacPhail Sir Andrew 1925 The Medical Services PDF Canada Department of National Defence p 199 Retrieved 6 May 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gilbert Lafayette Foster amp oldid 1217960904, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
