Arthur Foster (cricketer)

{{short description|English cricketer, physician, and soldier}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Arthur Foster

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Arthur Leslie Foster

| birth_date = 1 November 1891

| birth_place = Balham, Surrey, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1956|8|16|1891|11|1|df=yes}}

| death_place = East Stour, Dorset, England

| nickname =

| family =

| batting = Unknown

| bowling = Unknown

| role =

| club1 = Europeans

| year1 = {{nowrap|1924/25–1925/26}}

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 3

| runs1 = 106

| bat avg1 = 21.20

| 100s/50s1 = –/–

| top score1 = 44

| deliveries1 = ?

| wickets1 = 0

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–

| date = 23 December

| year = 2023

| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/arthur-foster-28685 Cricinfo

}}

Arthur Leslie Foster (1 November 1881 – 16 August 1956) was an English first-class cricketer, medical doctor, and an officer in the British Army.

The son of the merchant Norman R. Foster, he was born at Balham in November 1881. He was educated at Westminster School,{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000938/19081118/092/0008|title=Wedding|work=Brighton Gazette|page=8|date=18 November 1908|access-date=23 December 2023|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} before matriculating to study medicine at Guy's Hospital in Southwark.{{cite book|title=Commissioned Officers in the Medical Services of the British Army, 1660-1960|first=Alfred|last=Peterkin|date=1963|page=87|publisher=Wellcome Historical Medical Library|location=London|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y5DWAAAAMAAJ|language=en}} From there, he gained a commission into the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) as a probationary lieutenant in February 1908.{{London Gazette|issue=28115|date=3 March 1908|page=1498}} After being confirmed in the rank in August of that year.{{London Gazette|issue=28167|date=14 August 1908|page=5984}} he was promoted to captain in August 1911.{{London Gazette|issue=28524|date=22 August 1911|page=6227}} Following the end of the First World War, he was made an acting major in August 1919,{{London Gazette|issue=31634|date=7 November 1919|page=13638|supp=y}} prior to gaining the permanent rank in February 1920.{{London Gazette|issue=31768|date=3 February 1920|page=1534|supp=y}}

While stationed in British India, Foster played first-class cricket for the Europeans cricket team on three occasions in the Lahore Tournament's of 1924–25 and 1925–26, playing twice against the Muslims and once against the Sikhs.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/13/13449/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Arthur Foster|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=23 December 2023|url-access=subscription}} In these, he scored 106 runs at an average of 21.20, with a highest score of 44.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/13/13449/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Arthur Foster|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=23 December 2023|url-access=subscription}} In the RAMC, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in November 1932,{{London Gazette|issue=33886|date=25 November 1932|page=7504}} with a further promotion to colonel following in October 1936.{{London Gazette|issue=34330|date=9 October 1936|page=6432}} He retired from active service in November 1938 with the rank of colonel.{{London Gazette|issue=34567|date=4 November 1938|page=6888}} Foster was recalled to service in the Second World War, during which he was mentioned in dispatches in December 1940.{{London Gazette|issue=35020|date=20 December 1940|page=7175|supp=y}} His war service lasted until November 1941, when he exceeded the age for recall.{{London Gazette|issue=35464|date=20 February 1942|page=887|supp=y}} Foster died in August 1956 at East Stour, Dorset; he had married Edith Kate Summerhayes in November 1908.