Raymond was born in Peterborough, ON and was the husband of Margaret and father of Barry. He enlisted in the Canadian Army on 15 May 1941 and served with the 16th Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers in Canada, Britain, France and Belgium during the Second World War. Sapper Foster's job as a dispatch rider during D-Day called on him to maintain contact with the company's Reconnaissance Officer who was with the leading infantry, and the Number 2 Platoon Commander, busy clearing mines and obstacles for wheeled and tracked vehicles following behind. During the whole of D-Day, he made repeated trips along the road between the landing beach at Bernières-sur-Mer and La Mare, regardless of enemy snipers and mortar fire. On more than one occasion, Sapper Foster travelled the road on his motorcycle even when the infantry were pinned down. His courage was recognized by the awarding of the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
Sapper Foster was killed in Belgium on 18 October 1944 as a result of shrapnel from enemy fire during the Battle of the Scheldt. The Scheldt Estuary was a major German stronghold the Canadian First Army had to clear to allow supplies to flow by ship into the port of Antwerp. He was 25 years old. He is buried in the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium. Raymond‘s young widow was presented with the Memorial Cross in Ottawa in recognition for his sacrifice for Canada.