Albert (Bert) Edward Foster attested with the 48th Highlanders for overseas duty on 8 September 1939. He received the service number B72829.  As his date of birth was 28 November 1904, he was 34 years old when he enlisted. He, with the rest of the 48th Highlanders assigned to the 1st Battalion, would have trained on the CNE grounds in Toronto with the Horse Palace as barracks.

He was on the order for the members of the 1st Battalion who boarded a CN train in Toronto on 17 December bound for Halifax where they embarked on the Reina del Pacifico on 18 December 1939 as part of the convoy carrying the 1st Canadian Contingent overseas. However, it appears that he did not accompany the battalion on the train and convoy. A Part 2 Order shows him being struck off strength of the No. 2 Cdn Inf (Rifle) training Center (the 48th Highlanders Training Depot in Ontario) with orders to proceed overseas w.e.f. 8 January 1940. The next order shows him, as a member of Cn Company, being given a 5 day leave of absence from 4 January to 8 January 1940, before proceeding overseas.

More research required before and after Sept 1939 to Jan 1940.

NOK: wife Mrs. W. E. Foster