Harold Samuel Slater
Attended Mundella School, Meadows, Nottingham, where he was known as 'Pease'. Mundella Magazine, Christmas 1918, ROH: 'Slater, HS, RE'. Member University College Nottingham OTC
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Harold Samuel Slater was born in 1897 in the Meadows, Nottingham, he was the son of Stephen a railway engine driver and his second wife Mary Ann Slater née Wright and the brother of Edith Lucy Slater.
His father first wife was Sarah Elizabeth Wright (born 1861 and died 1894 aged 33 yrs, ) they were married in 1884, His father Stephen was born 1859 at Whaplode, Lincolnshire, hIs mother Mary Ann Wright was born in 1862 at Gedney, Lincolnshire, they were married on 23rd April 1895 at Nottingham, they had 3 children.
In 1911 they lived at 95 Glapton Road Meadows Nottingham. Stephen 52 yrs is a railway engine driver, he is living with his wife Mary Ann 49 yrs and their children, Harold Samuel 14 yrs a scholar and Edith Lucy 12 years of age.
Stephen and Mary later moved to 55 Eltham Road West Bridgford Nottingham.
Trained at Clipstone Camp before being sent to France with the Chemical Section of the Royal Engineers. Was taking up ammunition when he was killed by a shell he is buried at . Beaulencourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy (grave ref Sp. Mem. A.4.)
Mundella Magazine, July 1917, 'Our Fallen': 'The death in action of Harold Slater, whom we all affectionately called Pease, was a great blow to all Mundellians, to whom his tall figure – he was over 6ft tall when he left school two years ago – was so familiar. Slater was a conscientious diligent worker. Undaunted by successive failures, three at the Senior Oxford, and two at the London Matric., he ultimately passed the London Matric. He had previously qualified for entrance to College by passing the Oxford Senior in various subjects. He spent only a few weeks training at Clipstone Camp before being sent to France with the Chemical Section of the RE. On the night of May 6th he was engaged in taking up ammunition when a shell dropped among the team, killing all but two. It is some consolation to know that death was instantaneous, death being due to shock. One of his officers writes to his parents as follows: ‘I can assure you that Harold had nothing to regret in his living on this side of the Great Beyond. A non-smoker and teetotaller, unselfish and devoted to his pals, and after all only a boy, his death is regretted by all. That you may find strength in the knowledge that no man did his duty more fearlessly or willingly in this time of trial is my earnest hope.’
Harold Samuel Slater
Buried in Beaulencourt British Cemetery.
Harold Samuel Slater
Photograph published on 6th June 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post,is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918