Cecil John Slack
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Cecil John was the second son of John and Bedelia also Bridget (née Flannery). His father was born in Sutton in Ashfield in about 1857 and his mother Bedelia in Dublin in about 1859. They were married at Mansfield St Philip Neri in August 1883 and had six children, two of whom died in infancy. All the children were born in Sutton in Ashfield. One daughter, Agnes, was baptised at Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene, but with the exception of the eldest son, Hedley, for whom no baptismal record has yet been traced, her siblings were baptised at St Philip. Hedley birth registered 1884 (J/F/M) d. 1888 (J/F/M), Alice Mary b. 1885, Cecil John b. 7 February 1888 bap. 20 May 1888, Agnes b. 1890 d. 1891 (A/M/J), Maggie b. 1892 and Lillie b. 1897. John, a bricklayer, his wife and their three surviving children, Alice, Cecil and Agnes were living on Outram Street, Sutton in Ashfield in 1891. Agnes died later that year. By 1901 the family was living at 54 St Michael's Hill, Sutton in Ashfield: John a foreman ( brickworks), Bedeliah, Alice a pupil teacher, Cecil and Maggie who were school age, and Lillie. John and his wife were recorded at Litchfield Villas, Garden Lane, Sutton in Ashfield, in 1911. Their four surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: Alice an assistant teacher, Cecil a hosiery hand, Maggie a tailoress and Lillie. By 1921 only the youngest daughter, Lillie, was still living with her parents. John's father died on 22 April 1923 age 67. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, John's widow was living in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, with their married daughter, Maggie Moxon (m. 1930) and her husband Nathaniel. Maggie had married first John Alfred Wilson in 1916; he died in 1927. Bedelia Slack died on 22 June 1942 age 85.
2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. The 2nd Battalion was in Aldershot on the outbreak of war under order of 6th Brigade, 2nd Division. It landed at Le Havre on 13 August and remained with the BEF France for the duration of the war. The Brigade commanded the same four infantry battalions (1st King's, 2nd South Staffords, 1st Royal Berkshires and 1st KRRC) throughout; its order of battle included the 2nd Signal Company Royal Engineers, Brigade Machine Gun Company and 6th Field Ambulance RAMC. No record has yet been found of when Cecil John enlisted. He was killed in action on 17 February 1917 and is buried in Adanac Military Cemetery, Mirauon, France (grave ref. I.A.13). The cemetery was made after the Armistice and Cecil's grave was brought in from either a battlefield in the area or another cemetery/burial ground. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Adanac Military Cemetery (extract): the cemetery is about 3km from the village of Miraumont, 14.5km from the town of Albert. 'The villages of Miraumont and Pys were occupied on 24-25 February 1917 following the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. They were retaken by the Germans on 25 March 1918, but recovered [by] the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on the following 24 August. Adanac Military Cemetery (the name was formed by reversing the name "Canada") was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the Canadian battlefields around Courcelette and small cemeteries surrounding Miraumont, including [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC Additional information: 'Son of John and Bedelia Slack, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts.' Family grave, Sutton in Ashfield cemetery. Kerbstone, 'In loving memory of.' Kerbstone, ‘John husband of Bedelia Slack died April 22nd 1923 aged 67 years. Also their beloved son Pte Cecil J Slack killed in action in France Feb. 17th 1917, aged 29 years.’ Kerbstone, ‘Also of Bedelia Slack died June 22nd 1942 aged 85 years. At rest.’ Date of birth: 7 April 1888 from baptismal record. Note: CWGC gives date of death as 17 September 1917 (age 30) but UKSDGW and the family gravestone gives the date as 17 February 1917 (age 29). Soldiers' Effects: his mother, Bedelia Slack, was his sole legatee.
