Albert Slack
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Albert was the son of Willy/William and Emily/Emma Slack (née Johnson). Both his parents were born in Mansfield, William in 1856 and Emma in 1854. The were married in 1874 and had eight children, six of whom survived infancy. Seven children have been traced: John b. 1874 bap. Mansfield St John the Evangelist April 1874 d. 1874; Annie birth registered 1876 (J/F/M); Ernest b. 1878 bap. St John December 1878; Harold Valentine b. 1882 and Albert birth registered 1885 (J/F/M) both bap. SS Peter & Paul 30 June 1886, Mary (Pollie) b. 1887 and Arthur b. 1891. The eighth child may have been Nellie b. 1898, who died before 1901. William, a builder's labourer, and his wife Emma lived at 4 Stanhope Street, Mansfield, from 1891. By 1911 only one of their children, Mary, a winder hand, was in the home on the night of the census. Also in the household was Emma's niece, Mabel Johnson, a lace mender. The youngest son, Arthur, was working as a chauffeur and living in Poole, Dorset in 1911; he married his cousin Mabel Johnson in 1913. Four of the six surviving children, Annie, Ernest, Harold and Ernest, were married by 1911. Annie married Charles Thomas Beazley in 1897 and they and their two children were living in Forest Town, Mansfield. Ernest married Ada Mary Slack in 1906 and they were living in Sutton in Ashfield with their two sons. Harold married Daisy Marsh in 1904 and they and their two children were living in Mansfield. Albert married Daisy Priestland (b. Greasley, Derbyshire 1885) at Mansfield Parish Church on 19 March 1910. Their son Wilfred was born on 3 June 1910. The family was living at Stockwell Gate, Mansfield, in 1911: Albert, a 'fish and chip' (own account), Daisy and Wilfred (under one year). Also in the household was Daisy's sister, May Priestland (22), occupation servant. Daisy completed a form for the Army in November 1919 listing her late husband's surviving relatives: Self and child, Wilfred, 86 Stockwell Gate, Mansfield Father deceased. Mother Emma Slack, 4 Stanhope Street Mansfield Brother: Arthur Slack (28) 4 Stanhope Street Mansfield Sister: Mrs Baguley [Mary] c/o M Bingham Leyton Avenue Mansfield. Half-brother [brother-in-law] Walter Priestland (29) 124 Sutton Road Mansfield Half-sister [sister-in-law] May Priestland (31) 26 Stockwell Gate Mansfield. Daisy married secondly Horace Leeson (b. 1890) in 1919 (J/A/S) and they had at least two children, Clarence b. February 1920 and Dorothy birth registered 1924 (J/F/M), both of whom were born in Mansfield. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Daisy, a charwoman, and her son Clarence Leeson, a boot and shoe repairer, were living at Queen's Park Road, Brighton, Sussex, probably in a boarding or lodging house. The records of several other residents remain closed, but may have included Daisy's two other children, Wilfred Slack and Dorothy Leeson. Daisy's husband Horace Leeson, a fishmonger, was recorded at Middle Street, Brighton, which might also have been a boarding or lodging house. Daisy died in 1966 (reg. Brighton). Albert's older brother, Harold, may have served in the Militia (Private, 4th Notts & Derby Regiment). He was not in the family home on the night of the 1901 Census, but a Harold Slack age 19 (b. Mansfield) was recorded at Normanton Barracks, Derby. However, no Miitia record has been traced nor whether he subsequently served in the war.
Albert attested on 10 December 1915; he had previously served with the Sherwood Foresters for four years, possibly with the Militia. He transferred to the Army Reserve the following day and was mobilised on 30 January 1917 on a 'Duration of War' engagement. Albert Slack and fellow sapper, J Breen, died at No. 10 Canadian Stationery Hospital, St Omer, France, on 21 October 1917, both from multiple gunshot wounds suffered in an air raid. Both are buried in Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France (Slack grave ref. IV.E.61, Breen IV.E.63). See 'Extra information.' ‘In December 1914, as part of the Railways Directorate, the Inland Water Transport and Docks Section was formed to deal with transportation along the canals and waterways in France and Belgium. It became a separate section in October 1915 and grew rapidly in size with its headquarters in Richborough Kent. Sappers operated in a variety of roles, and worked to maintain communication and transportation of food, supplies, ammunition and the evacuation of wounded. In 1916 its work was extended to Mesopotamia and in 1917 to Egypt and Salonika. This community therefore contains sappers from all those theatres of war, including recruits raised locally.’ (www.livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk) CWGC - History of Longuenesse (St Omer) Cemetery (extract): 'St. Omer was the General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force from October 1914 to March 1916. Lord Roberts died there in November 1914. The town was a considerable hospital centre with the 4th, 10th, 7th Canadian, 9th Canadian and New Zealand Stationary Hospitals, the 7th, 58th (Scottish) and 59th (Northern) General Hospitals, and the 17th, 18th and 1st and 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations all stationed there at some time during the war. St. Omer suffered air raids in November 1917 and May 1918, with serious loss of life. The cemetery takes its names from the triangular cemetery of the St. Omer garrison, properly called the Souvenir Cemetery (Cimetiere du Souvenir Francais) which is located next to the War Cemetery.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC.19562: 150201 Sapper J Breen Royal Engineers Inland Waterway Transport, died 21 October 1917 age 34 buried Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery (IV.E.63). Son of Mrs. Mary Breen, of Main St., Castlewellan, Co. Down. Telegraph from W6 22 October 1917. ‘Cas.10 Sty. Hospital St Omer France telegraph 21 October died Oct 21 150201 Spr J Breen RE IWT GSW Multiple results of aerial raid and 232908 Spr A Slack RE IWT (-) wds multiple result of aerial raid.’ Copy of Telegram despatched to Slack 86 Stockwell Road Mansfield. 23rd (-). 'Regret to inform you officer commanding 10th Stationary Hospital St Omer France, (-) 232908 A Slack RE died 21st October gunshot wounds multiple (-).’ Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Mrs Daisy Leeson was his sole legatee. Albert's personal property was returned to his widow, Daisy, in January 1918 and comprised: defaced coin, red disc, letters/photographs, wallet wristwatch and strap, religious book, purse and French phrase book. His widow was awarded a pension 18/9d a week for herself and one child with effect from 29 April 1918.
