Having failed his third year, but with a Certificate of Military Qualification (which all cadets earned when they finished two full years at RMC) Foster withdrew from RMC to receive the King's commission and a posting to the
Permanent Force (PF) with
Lord Strathcona's Horse on July 2, 1924. As a young officer, he spent years in debt: the army paid only for saddle, harness, and stabling. He had to pay for his own horse (which cost nearly a month's salary) and for mess, uniforms, and tailoring. poses for a group photograph with members of his staff, along with his corps and division commanders, at Walbeck, Germany, 22 March 1945. Pictured standing in the third row, fifth from the right, is Major General Harry Foster. By 1934 he held the rank of
captain. He attended the
Staff College, Camberley, from 1937 to 1939 and was promoted to major and posted as
brigade major of the
1st Canadian Infantry Brigade at the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1941, promoted to
lieutenant colonel, Foster assumed command of
4th Reconnaissance Battalion (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards), the recently activated scout formation assigned to 1st Canadian Infantry Division in England. In 1942, he was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion,
The Highland Light Infantry of Canada. , May 1945. Seated from the left:
Stanisław Maczek (Polish Army),
Guy Simonds,
Harry Crerar,
Charles Foulkes,
Bert Hoffmeister. Standing from the left:
Ralph Keefler,
Bruce Matthews, Harry Foster,
Robert Moncel (standing in for
Chris Vokes),
Stuart Rawlins (British Army). In 1943, he was promoted to
brigadier and became the commanding officer of the
7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. In 1944 he was promoted to
major general and took over
4th Canadian (Armoured) Division in Normandy, relieving
George Kitching. On September 12, 1944, he entered the historic city of
Bruges (Belgium) with his troops. The liberation of this medieval town was done successfully, without fight or damage. In recognition for this achievement, Foster was named an honorary citizen of Bruges, an award bestowed upon only two people since 1900: Foster and
Hendrik Brugmans, first rector of the
College of Europe. Later, swapping commands with
Chris Vokes (because Vokes had a poor relationship with new
I Canadian Corps commander
Charles Foulkes), he led the
1st Canadian Infantry Division in Italy, then returned with this division to
North-West Europe as part of
Operation Goldflake. Foster was said to have had a "hands off" style and loathed paperwork. Foster was appointed a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order in January 1945 and appointed a
Commander of the Order of the British Empire in July 1945. ==Post-war==