Alfred Foster, the son of a carter was born at Hook Common in 1892. He had one sister Agnes, and a younger brother, Albert. He joined the 8th Worcestershire Regiment in late 1915 and served with the 2/8th Battalion in France, and was posted to the 2/7th Battalion some time afterwards. By the time the Germans pushed the British back in their powerful offensive in Spring 1918, Foster was serving with the 1st Worcesters. On the 23rd March, the brigade to which the 1st belonged was ordered forward to support the retreating troops and came into action at a village called Pargny a few miles west of Amiens.

The commander, Major F. C. Roberts realised that if the village was not retaken there was nothing to stop the advancing Germans rolling up the rest of the Brigade from the right. He decided to mount an immediate counter attack. At 9 p.m. small parties of men with fixed bayonets and magazines loaded drove the enemy out of the village and despite the fact that the German troops were tired Major Roberts’ quick certainly contributed to the situation. For leading this attack and for leading his men over the next few days he was awarded the Victoria Cross

Stacke, Capt H FitzM The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War Kidderminster 1921
1901 Census: Public Record Office