Pte 42776 George Slater

• Age: 32
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 19th December 1916
• Commemorated at: Etaples Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: XX.J.2

George Slater was born in the September quarter of 1884 in Liverpool and was the son of Thomas Henry Slater and his wife Mary Blundell (nee Pye) of Vale Hotel Oxton Road Birkenhead. His parents were married at St Augustine's C.of E. Church, Everton in 1878. George was baptised on 30th November 1884 at St John the Baptist Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, the family address at this time was 102 Mill Street, Toxteth..  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 103 Oxton Road, Birkenhead. Father, Thomas Henry is aged 46, born 1855 and is a Licensed Victualler and was born in Ormskirk. His wife Mary is aged 47, born 1854 in Haskayne. They had nine children, with the eldest six being born in Liverpool and the youngest three born in Birkenhead. Richard aged 20 born 1881, is a Barman, Alice aged 19, born 1882 has no occupation listed, Thomas aged 18, born 1883 is an Architects apprentice, George aged 16, born 1885 is a Barman, Henry aged 15, born 1886 is working in a Shipping office, John aged 12, born 1889, Mary aged 10, born 1891, Fred aged 7, born 1894 and William aged 5, born 1896.

The 1911 Census finds the family are still living at 103 Oxton Road, Birkenhead - Parents with children Richard, George Henry, Frederick, Mary and William.

He was the husband of Emmalia Slater (nee Smith) of 55 Bankhall Street, Kirkdale and Runcorn Hotel 32 Wapping Liverpool. They were married at Christ Church C.of E. Church, Claughton in 1912.

George enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion as Private 42776. He died of wounds on 19th December 1916 aged 32. 

He now rests at Etaples Military Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN".

During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.

The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915. 35 of these burials are unidentified. It is the largest CWGC cemetery in France, and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

The death of George was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 21st December 1916;

SLATER – December 19 from wounds received in action Private George Slater KLR age 32 years, the dearly-loved husband of Emmalia Slater, Runcorn Hotel, 32 Wapping, Liverpool. If He asked me, well I know, I should cry “Oh spare this blow” Yes with streaming eyes should pray, Lord I love him, let him stay. Little Em

SLATER - December 19 from wounds received in action Private George Slater KLR (Ever remembered by his sorrowing friend Jean) 27 Herchell Street, Everton.

SLATER - December 19 from wounds received in action Private George Slater KLR age 32 years, the dearly beloved third son of Thomas Henry and Mary Blundell Slater, Vale Hotel, Oxton Road, Birkenhead.

George's death was reported in the Birkenhead News on 27th December 1916:

DIED FOR ENGLAND

BIRKENHEAD PARENT'S SECOND BEREAVEMENT

In the columns of this journal on November 25th last appeared the announcement that Private William Slater of the K.L.R. youngest son of Mr and Mrs Slater of the Vale Hotel, Oxton road, Birkenhead, had been killed in action, and that at the age of 21 years of age. Now comes the intelligence that their third son, Private George Slater, has also succumbed to the effects of wounds received in the fray "somewhere in France". He was 22 years of age (sic), was educated at Birkenhead Higher Grade school, and subsequently entered the licensed trade. 

Recently he had been landlord of a house in Wapping, and was married. He joined the K.L.R. on June 21st, 1916, went to France on October 14th, and died on December 19th. The chaplain of a hospital at the clearing station, writing to Private Slater's wife on December 13th, stated that he (the deceased) had been hit in the foot, but the piece of shell has been taken out and he is getting on quite well. He has got the piece of shell in his "treasure bag" and says he is going to bring it home to show you..... If he should get worse I will let you know, but I hope he will soon be able to be sent to England. He sends his love and says "Don't worry." But this cheering communication to Mrs Slater was, unfortunately, followed by a War Office communication announcing her husband's death. 

It occurred in a Canadian General Hospital, and numerous are the condolences that the widow and parents of the deceased have received on the sad event. That the latters' sons are of the true patriotic stamp is evidenced by the fact that two have thus died for England, another is serving in France, and two more are with the colours in England, awaiting their turn for service abroad.     

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Emmalia.

George's loss was the second hammer blow to the Slater family in little over a month as his brother William had been killed in action on the 12th November 1916, aged 21, also whilst serving with the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 15034.

William now rests at Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP" 

George is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 39.

Both George and William are both commemorated on the Birkenhead Civic Memorial.

We currently have no further information on George Slater, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.