George Buchanan Foster

Lieutenant George Buchanan Foster, MBE DFC QC (19 August 1897 – 3 June 1974) was a Canadian First World War flying ace. He was credited with seven aerial victories.

George Buchanan Foster
Member of the Legislative Council of Quebec for Victoria
In office
21 August 1946 – 31 December 1968
Preceded byGeorge Gordon Hyde
Succeeded byInstitution abolished
Personal details
Born(1897-08-19)19 August 1897
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died3 June 1974(1974-06-03) (aged 76)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Resting placeKnowlton Cemetery, Knowlton, Quebec
Political partyUnion Nationale
RelationsGeorge Green Foster, father
Alma materMcGill University
AwardsOrder of the British Empire, Distinguished Flying Cross
Military service
AllegianceCanada
Branch/serviceAviation
RankLieutenant
UnitNo. 24 Squadron RAF

After the First World War, Foster would become a King's Counsel and prominent attorney as a principal in a major law firm, as well as being appointed a member of the Legislative Council of Quebec.

Early life

George Buchanan Foster was born on 19 August 1897 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[1][2] His mother was Mary Maud Buchanan; his father was Senator George Green Foster. He had one sister, Ruth Elizabeth Foster.[3] He was the great-grandson of Alexander Buchanan, a noted lawyer and judge.[4][5]

When George Buchanan Foster joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force to serve in the First World War, he was a single student.[1]

First World War

On 13 November 1917, Foster was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on probation.[6]

After training, he was assigned to 24 Squadron in France as a SE.5a pilot from 8 March to 27 August 1918. During this posting, he destroyed an observation balloon, two Pfalz D.III fighters, a Fokker Triplane, and a Hannover two-seater; he also shared in destruction of a Hannover, and drove a Fokker Triplane down out of control.[7] His exploits won him a Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 2 November 1918.[8]

After the First World War

After the First World War ended, "Bunny" Foster returned to Montreal, Canada and married Barbara Helen MacDougall.

He studied law at McGill University [9], with his prior education having been at Lower Canada College and the High School of Montreal. He was admitted to the Bar of Quebec on 16 July 1920, and practised law in Montreal, becoming King's Counsel on 10 January 1931. He became a principal in his own law firm of Foster, Hannen, Watt, Leggatt, and Colby.

George Buchanan Foster was awarded the Order of the British Empire on 1 July 1946.[10]

He was appointed to the Legislative Council of Quebec on 21 August 1946, and served there until the abolition of that institution in 1968.

In addition to his legal career, he served as president of the Children's Memorial Hospital of Montreal and was a member of the Protestant Board of Education for the province of Quebec. He served as president of Canada and Dominion Sugar Co. Ltd. and of Wire Rope Industries of Canada Ltd. and vice-president of Noranda Mines Ltd. He served on the boards of many companies, including IAC Ltd., Travelers Insurance, Brompton Pulp & Paper, Acme Glove, Holt Renfrew, Lake St. John's Paper, Montreal Trust, St. Lawrence Corporation, Sherbrooke Machinery, Donnacona Paper, Sagamo Penmans, Gaspe Copper, Seven Up, J. S. Mitchell, Combustion Engineering Superheater, Hilton of Canada and British Bank Note.

He died on 3 June 1974 and was buried in Knowlton Cemetery, Knowlton, Quebec, Canada.[2]

Bibliography
  • Christopher F. Shores; Norman L. R. Franks; Russell Guest (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4. also ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
  • Ernest J. Chambers; Pierre G. Normandin (1918). Canadian Parliamentary Guide: Guide parlementaire canadien, The. P. G. Normandin.
  • William Fong (2008). J.W. McConnell: Financier, Philanthropist, Patriot. McGill-Queen's Press – MQUP. ISBN 0-7735-3270-6. also ISBN 978-0-7735-3270-0.
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References
  1. "Lieutenant George Buchanan Foster". Canadian Great War Project. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  2. "George Buchanan Foster". Find a Grave. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  3. The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, p. 63.
  4. "Alexander Buchanan". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
  5. Buchanan, Arthur William Patrick (1911). The Buchanan book. The life of Alexander Buchanan, Q.C., of Montreal, followed by an account of the family of Buchanan. pp. 152, 305–306. OL 14005714M. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  6. "No. 30366". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 1917. p. 11417.
  7. Above the Trenches, pp. 158–159.
  8. "No. 30989". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 1918. p. 12965.
  9. "Old McGill Yearbook, 1921, p 49".
  10. "No. 37633". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1946. p. 3345.
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