25091, Trooper, Foster Richard MUMFORD
Aged 27
16th (Worcester) Company, 5th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry
Died of Illness 26th March 1902
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Foster Richard MUMFORD was born in 1875 in Thurston (Stow Q4-1875 4A:535) son of Alfred and Charlotte MUMFORD (née PRYME).
1881 census...Aged 5, he was at 2 Thedwastre Hill, Thurston with his father Alfred MUMFORD [40]merchant's banking clerk; his mother Charlotte [32] born Bury St.Edmunds; brothers Trevor Alfred [8], Ernest H [7], Owen E [1] and Augustus E [4 months];sister Maud E [3]. All except his mother were born in Thurston. 1891 census...Aged 15, he was a farm labourer, still at Thedwastre Hill with his parents; brother Ernest (domestic groom), Owen, Augustus, Thomas W [8] Archibald H [5] and Cyril P [4 months]; sisters Maude and Ethel L [3]. The new siblings all born in Thurston. His brother Ernest died in 1901 in Bloemfontein see here |
In St. Peter's Church is the above plaque
IN MEMORY OF
TROOPER FOSTER MUMFORD
16TH COMPANY IMPERIAL YEOMANRY
DIED IN SOUTH AFRICA 26TH MARCH 1902
ERECTED BY THE PARISHIONERS OF THURSTON
He enlisted in London on 30th January 1901, giving his age as 26, a groom, born Thurston. He was 5 feet 7.5 inches tall, weighed 148 lbs,
chest 34 to 35 inches, blue eyes, light hair, Church of England
He went to South Africa on 10th March 1901 and died of enteric fever at Lichtenburg.
There was no Commonwealth War Graves Commission in those days, in fact it is unlikely that the graves were marked or survive.
A great number of the deaths in this campaign were due to disease.
Foster Mumford is also commemorated on the Boer War Memorial on Cornhill, Bury St.Edmunds