Edgar Slack

Edgar enlisted in October 1914 and served with 'C' Company, 1/8th Batttalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). 2733, 305742 (Private)

He served with BEF France and died on the morning of 17 February 1917 as a consequence of gas shelling. (See 'Extra information')

Edgar was buried that afternoon by the regimental chaplain in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, France (grave ref. V.A.4).

The Battalion was in line in front of Fonquevillers at the end of 1916, beginning of 1917, with intervals in support and in billets at Souastre. According to the Roll of Honour in a history of the 1/8th Battalion, Edgar was one of four members of the Battalion killed on 17 February, the others being Privates G Addison, F Makin and JW Sharman. 'The most unpleasant experience we ourselves had was on February 16th [16th/17th], when we relieved the 7th Battalion [Sherwood Foresters] for the last time in this sector. The relief itself was carried out under difficulties, owing to a certain amount of gas shelling, but later on the Hun sent over perfect showers of gas bombs, and absolutely deluged the front and support lines, whilst he also fired a considerable number of gas shells into the village ... It was our first experience of any real gas shell bombardment and partly owing to this and partly to the high concentration of the gas used we suffered heavy casualties, four men being killed and 24 wounded.' (History of the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters 1914-1919, pp165-166, Captain WCC Weetmman MC CdeG.)

Note: 328024 Private John William Sharman, mentioned above, was also buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery (V.A.8). He is commemorated on the Radford All Souls Memorial (see record on this Roll of Honour).

CWGC - History of Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery (extract): 'The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from the following small military cemeteries [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)

Edgar's older brother, Thomas Cyril, a sanitary inspector, home address Derby, enlisted in 1916 at the age of 24. He named his father Thomas of Clare Villas, Rosemary Street, Mansfield, as his next of kin. He was posted to the 1st London Sanitary Company RAMC (1268) on 25 January 1916 but after serving for 189 days was discharged on 31 July 1916 under Para 392 iii (cc) King's Regulations, 'not likely to become an efficient soldier on medical grounds'. Thomas had spent three periods in hospital in London during his service, twice with rheumatoid arthritis and once suffering from mylagia (63 days). He was discharged to an address in Derby.

CWGC Additional information: 'Son of Thomas and Hannah Slack, of 34, Rosemary St., Mansfield, Notts. Born At Sutton-In-Ashfield'

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Dearer to memory than words can tell'

Mansfield Reporter & Sutton Times, 9 March 1917: ‘Death of Lance-Corporal Edgar Slack’. The newspaper devoted one full column to its report of Lance-Corporal Slack’s death:

‘We regret to state that Mr and Mrs T Slack, Clare Villas, Rosemary-street, Mansfield, received on Wednesday morning official news that their son, Lance-Corporal Edgar Slack had been killed in action. He was 22 years of age last July. He was home on ten days’ leave at Christmas, and returned on Boxing Day, going straight to the trenches, where he spent most of the time in France. He was in the “big push” on the Somme and has taken part in many a hard fight. In November, 1915, we published the following paragraph, which will be read with interest: Private Edgar Slack enlisted on October 19th last year [1914]. He followed the occupation of printer, and was employed by Messrs, King and Bird with whom he served his apprenticeship. Going out to France last June, he spent his 21st birthday in the trenches in the following month. In a letter which his parents received from him last week, Private Slack says: “We have had a very stiff time; on Thursday it was awful. I was hit with a bullet on a button on my overcoat, It was an extremely lucky escape. The bullet stopped in my tunic pocket. I was “gassed” and buried on the afternoon of the same day.” He adds the gratifying information that under the efficiency and care of hospital treatment he is recovering from the effects of his thrilling experiences. The late soldier was a very popular young man, and made friends wherever he went. He was always of a willing and cheery disposition, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. His parents have received a large number of sympathetic letters, which speak volumes for the regret which the cutting short of so promising a career has evoked.'

The newspaper published four of the numerous letters received by Edgar's parents. One was from Wm. J. McAdam, 26 Clarence Road, St Albans, who had heard of Edgar’s death in a letter from ‘Harold’, and the other from S.A, Saunders, Birkland Cottage, Hatherleigh, N. Devon, who was ‘a former friend and fellow worker in Sunday School matters.’

The Officer Commanding ‘C’ Co., 8th Sherwood Foresters BEF, wrote to Edgar's mother on 25 February 1917: ‘Dear Madam, I deeply regret to have to announce to you the death in action of your son, No. 2733, Lance-Corporal E Slack, which occurred in the early morning of February 17th. A shell burst only a few yards away from him, and he died shortly afterwards. He was buried the same afternoon in the military cemetery just behind the trenches, his funeral being conducted by our regimental chaplain, and attended by officers of the battalion, who were able to leave the trenches. I had known your son ever since he had been (-) excellent soldier and a very conscientious non-commissioned officer. He would shortly have got further promotion, which he had well deserved. He was also popular with his companions in the Company. I can only add that I am very sorry indeed to lose him, and ask you to accept my sympathy in your bereavement. Yours faithfully, R.A. Abrams Lieut.’

CWGC 196601: Lieutenant Reginald Arthur Abrams, Lieutenant 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters, died 4 March 1917 aged 28 (Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, France). Son of Edward Arthur and Elizabeth Abrams, of 82, Southmoor Rd., Oxford. M A Oxon. CWGC headstone, personal inscription: ‘Senior Assistant at the Bodleian Library Oxford’

A fellow soldier wrote from 'In the Field': ‘Dear Mr and Mrs Slack and family, I hardly know how to begin this letter, and have put off writing for a few days, but thought I must write to offer you all my deep sympathy in the sad bereavement befallen you on the death of your nephew and cousin (Corporal Edgar Slack). As far as I can tell you, our battalion was in the trenches, just taken over from one of the other battalions in the Brigade, when the enemy began to shell very heavily. Then later in the evening he shelled again, sending over trench mortars, whizz-bangs, and heavy shells. In-between these he sent over some gas shells. One of these hit the entrance of the dug-out in which Edgar was sleeping along with the others of the platoon. About two or three house later (and when everything had quietened down) he complained of feeling very ill and although everything possible was done, am sorry to say he passed away before morning … Please convey my sympathy to his relatives at Mansfield. The men in his platoon, as well as others in the Company, were awfully upset at his death, as he was liked by one and all. Am thankful to say we are now out at rest behind the line for a few days, but soon we will be amongst the shells and in and out of trenches again … Again accept my deep sympathy and kind regard to one and all. From yours very sincerely, Ted.'

Rev. A Briggs, the pastor at the Congregational Church attended by Edgar, referred to Edgar’s death at a Sunday morning service. Although Rev. Briggs had not known Edgar personally, he said that his predecessor had described Edgar as ‘a good Christian and a good worker in the church. I have never known him other than bright and cheerful, and even while undergoing all the horrors of war his letters manifested a happy spirit … I feel his death as a real personal loss … I am sure that as a church and school we mourn his loss. To the bereaved parents and relatives our deepest sympathy goes out and we pray that in this dark hour Divine comfort and strength may be granted unto them.’ (extract)

Mansfield Reporter, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 9 March 1917: ‘Mr and Mrs T Slack and Sons, Clare Villas, Rosemary-street, wish to thank their many friends for the kind expressions of sympathy in their sad bereavement.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Original research RF with additional information June 2026.