Bernard Slack

HMS Esk, an E-class destroyer, was on mine-laying duties when she sailed into a newly laid German minefield on 31 August 1940.

Five ships were involved in what became known as the 'Texel Disaster': HMS Express, HMS Ivanhoe, HMS Icarus, HMS Intrepid and HMS Esk. They were laying mines off Texel Netherlands when HMS Express hit a mine. Ivanhoe went to her assistance but also hit a mine as did HMS Esk. There were 300 men killed from the five ships, 127 from the Esk, and another 100 either injured or taken prisoner.

Bernard's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 40, Column 1).

Bernard's maternal uncle, his mother's brother, 29581 Private William Rigg, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, was killed in France on 16 September 1916. (See record on this Roll of Honour)

Bernard's brother, William Herbert, served in the Royal Artillery (1509481 Gunner) in the Second World War and was taken prisoner at Calais on 26 May 1940. He was held in POW camp Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf in Germany (POW number 11106).

Bernard's cousin, Graham Harold Slack, served with the 1/5 Battalion Sherwood Foresters in the Second World War and was taken prisoner by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore in September 1941. He died in a prisoner of war camp of maleria on 14 October 1943. Graham's father (Bernard's uncle), John Harold Slack, served with the Sherwood Foresters in the Great War and was killed in action on 16 October 1916. (See records on this Roll of Honour)

CWGC Additional information: Son of George Ernest and Mary Elizabeth Slack, of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 28 September 1940: 'Fates of Two Mansfield Brothers. One a prisoner, the other persumed dead.

'Mr and Mrs E Slack of 20 Hall Street, Mansfield have four sons, two of them have been serving in the forces whilst another is 15 years old and the fourth son has not been called up.

'This month they have received news that one of their boys serving with the Navy [Bernard] must be presumed dead, whilst the other serving with the Army [William Herbert] and is a P.O.W in Germany.

'Bernard, aged 19 was serving on a destroyer, during the evacuation of Dunkirk. He joined the Navy when he was 17 as a wireless operator. Prior to enlisting he worked at Mansfield and Bilsthorpe collieries and was educated at Ravensdale School.

'William Herbert aged 22, had not been heard of from for 5 months, but they were informed last week that he was a P.O.W in Germany. He was called up last July and drafted to France on New's Year Day. He was working a searchlight for the R.A near Boulogne. Educated at Carter Lane School and worked at Bilsthorpe Colliery.'

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 'In Memoriam', 29 August, 1941: 'Slack-Rigg. In loving memory of my dear nephew, Bernard Slack lost with HMS Destroyer Esk. September 1st 1940 also my dear brother Pte William Rigg who fell in the Great War Sept 1916. from Auntie and sister, Alice, Blidworth.' Alice (Rigg) and Mary Elizabeth (Slack nee Rigg) were sisters.