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Location
In St John's Church, Niton, Isle of Wight, PO38 2BS. IWM War Memorials Archive Record Link : War Memorials Archive Reference 21813 Historic England Listing Status St John's Church is Listed Grade II*. Since the Memorial forms part of the fittings of the Church, it is assumed to be covered by the Listing. Description A brass plaque on a wooden board. The Plaque was paid for by his sister Elizabeth Annie (Nan) Forster. |
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Memorial
Headstone of Thomas Forster 
Robson Cameron Forster (courtesy of Kaye Forster-Hill) 
Headstone of Robson Cameron Forster (courtesy of Kaye Forster-Hill) |
Inscription
IN HONOURED AND EVERLASTING MEMORY OF ROBSON CAMERON FORSTER WHO DIED ON 17TH OCTOBER 1919 IN THE MILITARY HOSPITAL AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND AGED 35 YEARS FROM WOUNDS RECEIVED IN FRANCE 1916 R.I.P. Further Information
From the CWGC record : Ventnor War Memorial County War Memorial, Carisbrooke Castle Robson Forster is also named on his father's headstone in St John's Churchyard : the inscription reads :
In Loving Memory of
THOMAS FORSTER LATE OF BELSAY, NORTHUMBERLAND BORN JUNE 12TH 1845 DIED JUNE 1ST 1903 TAKE YE HEED, WATCH AND PRAY FOR YE KNOW NOT WHEN THE TIME IS. Also of ROBSON CAMERON SON OF THE ABOVE DIED IN THE MILITARY HOSPITAL AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND OCT 17TH 1919. Documents :
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY PRESS
Saturday, June 5, 1915 Page 8 THE ISLAND AND THE WAR NITON Niton people will be interested to know that both Mr. Robson Forster and his brother Frank [1] have
joined up for service in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. They enlisted together, but after
some little training Frank, who it will be remembered, broke his knee-cap in a football match,
was rejected as unfit on account of not being able to stand the long marches. He was, however,
determined to join some Force to do his part in the defence of this country, and eventually was
taken in to the Mounted Infantry and is now doing his training in Auckland, both brothers will
soon be on their way to the theatre of war. Robson is in the 5th New Zealand (Auckland) Infantry
and Frank is in the 7th Auckland Mounted Infantry. The best wishes of the village for their good
health and safe return will go with them.
[1] Martin Lee Forster was known as 'Frank'.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, October 13, 1916 Page 5 Miss Forster, of Beaconsfield, Ventnor, has received information that her brother, Private Robson C. Forster,
has been wounded in action. He will be best remembered locally owing to his connection with the Ventnor Football Club,
of which he was for some time a valued player and member. Private Forster was in New Zealand at the outbreak of the war
and at once joined the 1st Battalion of the Auckland Infantry. He spent some time in Egypt, and afterwards took part
in the Gallipoli Campaign subsequently returning to Egypt, and was afterwards drafted to France. He took part in the
recent offensive and was wounded in the chest. The latest information concerning him is that he is making satisfactory progress.
Private Forster landed in England yesterday morning. He is the son of the late Mr. Thomas Forster, of Puckaster Dairy, Niton.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, November 7, 1919 Page 2 IN MEMORIAM ROBSON FORSTER, late goalkeeper of the Ventnor Football Club, who died at the Military Hospital, Auckland, N.Z., on October 17th. In memory of a true sportsman who played the game on the field as he lived, fearless, upright and true; one of nature's gentlemen and in all a man. - In loving memory from the Ventnor Football Club.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, June 9, 1939 Page 2 DEATH FORSTER. - On 7th June, at Hexham, Northumberland, Mary Forster, widow of Thomas Forster, late of Puckaster, Niton, in her 90th year.
Page 2 DEATH OF MRS. THOMAS FORSTER. - Many of our older readers in Ventnor and Niton will learn with regret of
the death of Mrs. Forster, widow of Mr. Thomas Forster, formerly of Puckaster, which occurred on Wednesday
at Hexham, Northumberland, in her 90th year. Mrs. Forster was a woman of much personal charm, a devoted
wife and mother of a large family, and all who remember her will recall with pleasure her gracious personality.
Much sympathy will be felt with her daughter, Miss Forster, of Beaconsfield, Park Avenue, and other members of
the family in their sad loss.
Links : Hamilton City Council Cemetery - enter name then click on entry to find details of burial photo of grave Auckland Regiment deaths in New Zealand New Zealand Expeditionary Force Photo of Mrs Forster with Robson and Martin Forster Acknowledgments : Janet Griffin for newspaper and web research |
Page updated : 2 April 2015 (added report of enlistment)