Pte 15034 William Slater

• Age: 21
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 12th November 1916
• Commemorated at: Bienvillers Mill Cem
  Panel Ref: V.D.3

William Slater was born in 1895 in Birkenhead. He was baptised on the 20^th October, 1895 at Christ Church, Claughton-Cum-Grange, Birkenhead. He was the son of Thomas Henry Slater and 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.

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 still living at 103 Oxton Road, Birkenhead. Parents with children Richard, George Henry, Frederick, Mary and William.

William enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool, joining the 17th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15034. One of the Cotton Contingent, he was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

 William survived the summer battles at Montauban, Trones Wood and Guillemont as well as Transloy Ridges in October. He ws sadly killed in action on the 12^th November 1916 aged 21 during the Somme Offensive.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 20th November 1916:

SLATER – November 12 Killed in action aged 21, Private William Slater KLR (Lewis gun section) dear beloved youngest son of Thomas Henry and Mary Blundell Slater, Vale Hotel, Oxton Road, Birkenhead.

SLATER – November 12 Killed in action age 21 Private William Slater (Billy) KLR (Lewis gun section) Sadly missed and ever remembered ??? Alfred Road, Birkenhead. 

The Birkenhead News dated 22^nd November, 1916 carried a very detailed report:

Champion Swimmer Falls

Private W. Slater Killed In Action

We regret to announce that Private William Slater, of The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) who was prior to the war a well known championship swimmer, has been killed in action. He was a victim of a German shell 50 yards away from where one of his brothers was at the moment. Private Slater was the youngest son of Mr. Thos. Slater of 103 Oxton Road, Birkenhead and had only just attained his 21st birthday. He was educated at Claughton Higher Grade School. Before the war he was apprenticed as cotton salesman with the firm of Messrs: J.R. Atkinson and Co. He joined the Pals when the first call was made, and saw 12 months service at the front. As an accomplished devotee of the ?.... art, Slater had in pre-war days taken part in much championship swimming. He was the captain of the Birkenhead squadron team which won the championship in 1911, and in polo contests had often represented Port Sunlight in their matches. Two brothers of Private Slater are still at the front and two others are with the colours in England.

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Football Echo on Saturday 25 November 1916: 

Birkenhead Swimmer Killed. 

The information has reached us this week that Willie Slater, of Birkenhead S. C., has been killed in action. He was attached to the King’s Liverpool Regiment and had just attained his majority. Thus another of our promising lads has gone from us. Willie Slater was a prominent member of Birkenhead Club, and helped the boys to make a record in the Junior Squadron Championship in 1911, and in later years became quite adept at water polo. 

Willie now lies in Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP”

Bienvillers Military Cemetery was begun in September 1915 by the 37th Division, carried on by other Divisions in the line until March 1917, reopened from March to September 1918, when the village was again near the front line, and completed in 1922-24 when a number of graves, mainly of 1916, were brought in from the battlefields of the Ancre. Its twenty-one plots show a remarkable alternation of original burials in regimental or divisional groups, and groups of concentrated graves. The cemetery now contains 1,605 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 425 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to two casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The 16 Second World War burials all date from the early months of the war, before the German invasion in May 1940 forced the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from France.

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Birkenhead Civic Memorial.

Liverpool Cotton Association, Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool.

The loss of William was the first of two grievous losses that the Slater family had to bear in little over a month as his brother George Slater died of wounds 19^th December 1916, aged 32, years whilst serving with the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 42776.

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.                   

George now lies in Etaples Military Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

 “UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN”

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.

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