Sidney John Slater

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Sidney died on 12th of April 1917 at the age of 25. 

Sidney was born at Blundeston in 1892, a son of John and Alice Slater. He was baptised at Saint Mary’s Church, Blundeston, on 7 February 1892. In 1901 his family lived at Market Lane, Blundeston. By 1911 they were living at Oak Tree House, Blundeston Road, Corton, and Sidney was a gardener. It is likely that he was a market gardener working with his father. 

Sidney enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Royal Field Artillery, service number 1446687. He was transferred to the Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians), service number 5593, and posted to the 2nd Battalion in France. 

On 11 April 1917 the 2nd Battalion moved to assembly trenches at Souchez in readiness for an attack on Bois-en-Hache. At zero hour, 5 a.m. on 12 April, the battalion attacked the Bois-en-Hache spur. By 6.10 a.m. they had taken their first objective and began consolidation work. Some parties pushed on to the second objective and encountered heavy enemy machine-gun and rifle fire. At 8.10 a.m. the battalion had taken the enemy front line and were extending their line, but were harassed by snipers, who caused numerous casualties. For the next few hours work was done to create a string point and push advanced posts out in front of the main line. The situation remained unchained for the rest of the day, but the enemy occasionally shelled the battalion’s positions. 

Sidney was killed in action on 12 April.