9 July 1917 - RETURNED FROM THE FRONT.

Four more Gisborne soldiers returned home yesterday, coming from. Auckland by the SS Arahura Their names are: Sergt Major W Graham Corporal W Bailey, Privates M. R Walters and W J Foster They were met by Messrs R M Birrell, and A H Wallis, on behalf of the Defence Committee, and Mr J B Erskine secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association.

Private W J. Foster, who is the eldest son of Mr J. Foster, of Mangapapa, has been invalided home as the 'result of a severe "gassing" while on the Armentieres front about twelve months ago. Leaving, with the 9th Reinforcements, Private Foster spent about two months in Egypt before, moving on with the Expeditionary Force to France. Whilst a gas attack upon the German lines was in progress, the wind suddenly changed, bringing the poison gas cloud back into the British Trenches. There was of course a sudden exit, but the Gisbornite were plucky enough to remain behind to shut off the eight cylinders of gas he was operating. He had succeeding in turning off the last when he was overcome, and in falling his mask come off, which accounted for the severe gassing he received. Private Foster was in different hospitals in France before he was transferred direct to England, where he spent six months mostly in the convalescent hospitals at Codford and Hornchurch. He has much benefited by the voyage out, and he has considerably improved he is still suffering from the effects of the gas. Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 22 July 2015 - Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14344, 9 July 1917, Page 2