Slatter family circa 1905, Charles is on the far leftTuesday, 19 December 2006
Childhood and Pre-War Years
Charles Alexander Slatter was born on the 3rd of May 1897 in Iver, Buckinghamshire, and was the third child of George and Annie Slatter. In early 1910 his family moved to Uxbridge, Middlesex where his father had found work at Osborne Stevens’ timber yard tending the company’s horses. His large family of 11 was housed on the premises in two separate cottages.
Slatter family circa 1905, Charles is on the far left
On the 20th May 1912, 15 year old Charles enlisted in the 8th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment (Territorial Force). He declared his age to be 17 years and one month. At his attestation he was 5 foot 4 with a girth of 34 inches when fully expanded. His occupation was given as a gardener. His original service number was 1694.
Slatter family circa 1905, Charles is on the far left
Mobilisation & Embarkation
On the 4th of August 1914, when Britain declared War on Germany and the order to mobilise issued, the 8th Middlesex was already on the move. The 3rd of August was a Bank Holiday and the Battalion, along with others of the 44th (Home Countries) Division was undertaking it’s annual summer training. On the 4th August both the 7th and 8th Middlesex were marching from Aldershot to Salisbury Plain. Upon the order to mobilise, both battalions promptly entrained at Amesbury for their respective headquarters of Hornsey and Hounslow. The 8th then moved to Sheerness, the Battalion’s war station and waited for orders.
SS Empress Queen - Isle of Mann Steam Packet CompanyCharles embarked from Southampton on the SS Empress Queen on 8th March and landed at Le Harve the next day. On the 11th March his Battalion was attached to the 85th Brigade, 28th Division at Bailleul and commenced instruction in trench warfare. After spending the final week of March digging communication trenches and generally gaining knowledge of active service conditions, the Battalion moved up to billets closer the front line. On the 9th April the Battalion moved up to the town of St Jean and three days later relieved the 3rd Middlesex in the trenches east of Zonnebeke for their first spell of front line duty.
Second Battle of Ypres
On the 9th April the Battalion moved up to the town of St Jean and three days later relieved the 3rd Middlesex in the trenches east of Zonnebeke for their first spell of front line duty. The battalion’s first taste of action however, came during the Second Battle of Ypres, which commenced on 22nd April 1915, when chlorine gas was deployed against the French, Belgian and British forces for the first time. The 1/8th Middlesex were held in reserve for the first 2 days of the battle, but from the 24th to the 29th April they occupied the front line outside Zonnebeke. On the 25th of April the Battalion experienced actual combat for the first time, when A and B Companies of the 1/8th were called upon to support the neighbouring 2nd East Surreys, who were in a bad way and were in danger of being outflanked. The two Companies from the 1/8th, along with the remnants of the East Surreys charged the Germans and drove them back. Later on that night they joined with 2 companies of the Shropshire Light Infantry in an unsuccessful counter attack on German held trenches. Captain Austin H Woodbridge MC of the 1/8th Battalion reported in his trench diary, “All men behaved splendidly in this their first fight”.
The Battalion then held the line for another 3 days. The situation was summed up by the 1/8th’s commander Lieut.-Colonel Garner, “Enemy’s sniping and bombing, which now enfiladed us from both flanks became very nerve shaking, making many casualties.” These actions became a part of the Battle of St Julien.
Disposition of the 28th Division, 8am 29 April 1915. The 8th Middlesex is situated to the north of Zonnebeke and also on the front line.
Charles was gassed on the 24th May 1915, during the final German push of the offensive, later known as the Battle of Bellewaarde. The 1/8th Battalion Diary describes the 3am German attack thus;
“Opening with rapid fire and gas clouds. Momentary panic during which several men left trenches….Germans established themselves in British trench south of railway, and thus enfiladed us later in the day. But position was secured by reinforcements after dark. Meanwhile troops of all regiments who had retired from fire trench swept over GHQ line and carried certain men with them. A and C companies (1/8th Middlesex) under their officers, stood fast, experiencing a terrific shelling. The gas, moreover, rolled down into the hollow through which GHQ line runs and affected these troops, considerably, the trouble being aggravated by the addition of asphyxiating shells which the fire trenches did not have….Roll call taken under difficulties that night showed the casualties to be, 2 officers killed, 4 missing, 1 other rank killed, 160 missing”.
3rd Britsh General Hospital, Le Treport.
He was treated in the field by the 3rd Canadian Field Ambulance and evacuated to number 5 Casualty Clearing Station at Poperinghe. The next day he was evacuated to Le Treport and admitted to either the 3rd or 16th General Hospital. He remained at Le Treport for 11 days before being ‘discharged to base’ on the 6th June.
The Battalion then held the line for another 3 days. The situation was summed up by the 1/8th’s commander Lieut.-Colonel Garner, “Enemy’s sniping and bombing, which now enfiladed us from both flanks became very nerve shaking, making many casualties.” These actions became a part of the Battle of St Julien.
Disposition of the 28th Division, 8am 29 April 1915. The 8th Middlesex is situated to the north of Zonnebeke and also on the front line.
Charles was gassed on the 24th May 1915, during the final German push of the offensive, later known as the Battle of Bellewaarde. The 1/8th Battalion Diary describes the 3am German attack thus;
“Opening with rapid fire and gas clouds. Momentary panic during which several men left trenches….Germans established themselves in British trench south of railway, and thus enfiladed us later in the day. But position was secured by reinforcements after dark. Meanwhile troops of all regiments who had retired from fire trench swept over GHQ line and carried certain men with them. A and C companies (1/8th Middlesex) under their officers, stood fast, experiencing a terrific shelling. The gas, moreover, rolled down into the hollow through which GHQ line runs and affected these troops, considerably, the trouble being aggravated by the addition of asphyxiating shells which the fire trenches did not have….Roll call taken under difficulties that night showed the casualties to be, 2 officers killed, 4 missing, 1 other rank killed, 160 missing”.
3rd Britsh General Hospital, Le Treport.He was treated in the field by the 3rd Canadian Field Ambulance and evacuated to number 5 Casualty Clearing Station at Poperinghe. The next day he was evacuated to Le Treport and admitted to either the 3rd or 16th General Hospital. He remained at Le Treport for 11 days before being ‘discharged to base’ on the 6th June.
Battle Of Loos
On the 23rd June 1915 the Battalion was transferred to the 8th Division and amalgamated with the 1/7th Middlesex. On 25th Sept 1915, the 8th Division was involved in the attacks at Bois Grenier, a costly subsidiary action of the Battle of Loos. On this occasion Charles’ battalion was fortunate - as the bulk of the 1/8th Middlesex was held in reserve, with only a small selection of machine gunners and grenadiers used in the initial attacks. Throughout the day however, the remainder of the battalion either carried supplies forward, or was used to hold the captured German trenches. During this short stay on the front line they endured considerable enemy shellfire, and when the battalion was returned to billets on the next day, they had lost 6 men with another 17 wounded.
After a seven-month stay with the 8th Division, the 1/8th Middlesex was transferred to the 167th Brigade, 56th (London) Division on the 9th of February 1916. Here it was to stay for the duration of the war.
After a seven-month stay with the 8th Division, the 1/8th Middlesex was transferred to the 167th Brigade, 56th (London) Division on the 9th of February 1916. Here it was to stay for the duration of the war.
Gommecourt & Somme Preparations
Charles’ battalion was to see substantial action during the later phases of the Somme campaign, but as they been at Loos, they were again fortunate to be held in reserve on the opening day of the assault. In this case, July 1st 1916, the fateful and iconic ‘first day of the Somme’, where almost 20,000 British soldiers met their fate.
None-the-less, the battalion spent 7 days prior to the offensive from the 21st to the 27th of June manning the front line trenches in front of Hebuterne. On the night of the 23rd a violent thunderstorm broke over the whole front, and the trenches were, in some places knee deep in water. The next day the intense preliminary bombardment of the German lines began, and whilst the enemy’s retaliation was initially slight, it grew over the next four days to a crescendo. As the casualties increased, the condition of the trenches deteriorated as both the bombardment and the rain continued. A Regimental history, Die-hards in the Great War by Everard Wyrall describes the situation thus;
“The men were now standing in water up to their knees and their physical condition began to be serious: on the 24th they had been soaked to the skin; there were no means of furnishing hot food or hot drinks, and the hostile shell fire made sleep impossible. The 4th day of the bombardment (27th) again drew heavy retaliation from the enemy, which with constant rain, produced appalling conditions in the front line trenches.” On the night of the 27th, Charles’ Battalion was withdrawn from the front line, and into billets at Hénu and Souastre. During their seven days on the front line the Battalion suffered losses of 16 killed, 119 wounded, 11 missing and 63 evacuated sick with ‘trench feet’.
During the first 10 weeks of the Somme campaign the 1/8th Middlesex was not used as an assaulting battalion, instead spending a total of 26 days holding the front line in the Gommecourt area, spread over 5 separate occasions.
None-the-less, the battalion spent 7 days prior to the offensive from the 21st to the 27th of June manning the front line trenches in front of Hebuterne. On the night of the 23rd a violent thunderstorm broke over the whole front, and the trenches were, in some places knee deep in water. The next day the intense preliminary bombardment of the German lines began, and whilst the enemy’s retaliation was initially slight, it grew over the next four days to a crescendo. As the casualties increased, the condition of the trenches deteriorated as both the bombardment and the rain continued. A Regimental history, Die-hards in the Great War by Everard Wyrall describes the situation thus;
“The men were now standing in water up to their knees and their physical condition began to be serious: on the 24th they had been soaked to the skin; there were no means of furnishing hot food or hot drinks, and the hostile shell fire made sleep impossible. The 4th day of the bombardment (27th) again drew heavy retaliation from the enemy, which with constant rain, produced appalling conditions in the front line trenches.” On the night of the 27th, Charles’ Battalion was withdrawn from the front line, and into billets at Hénu and Souastre. During their seven days on the front line the Battalion suffered losses of 16 killed, 119 wounded, 11 missing and 63 evacuated sick with ‘trench feet’.
During the first 10 weeks of the Somme campaign the 1/8th Middlesex was not used as an assaulting battalion, instead spending a total of 26 days holding the front line in the Gommecourt area, spread over 5 separate occasions.
Leuze Wood, 10th - 15th Sept 1917
On the 10th of September the battalion arrived at the trenches in front of Leuze Wood to take part in a new offensive. The next day on the 11th, A and B companies readied themselves for an assault on the German lines along the Ginchy-Morval Rd, but were unable to assemble for the attack due to a heavy German barrage. Thus zero hour was postponed until midnight that night. Wyrall’s account of the attack reads;
“At midnight, supported by artillery and trench mortar batteries and bombers, the 1/8th made their attack. The objective was reached, but the Guards on the left did not co-operate as was expected, with the result that when the Germans launched a heavy bombing counter attack the position could not be held and the attacking companies of Middlesex men were bombed back a certain distance. The net result of this small operation was that the 1/8th had gained about 50 yards and had established a new block. Many German’s were killed and 7 prisoners were taken, but the casualties of the 1/8th were heavy;”
In fact 165 men were killed, wounded or listed missing as a result of the actions on the 11th September, after which the battalion withdrew to bivouacs near German Wood. On the 14th September the battalion moved into position between Leuze and Wedge Woods and prepared for another assault on the German lines following day.
The 1/8th Battalion diary for this action reads;
“Leuze Wood. 15th. A general attack on the German lines. The (167th) Brigade assaulted the lines immediately west of Bouleaux Wood. As the wood was still held by the Germans the Brigade had to make a frontal attack with a hostile defensive position on the right flank. The first objective was allotted to the 1st London Regiment who secured part of it. The second objective allotted to the 1/7th Middlesex Regiment was not reached. (1.:30pm) The Battalion was then ordered to the attack but half an hour after the assault was launched the order to ‘dig in’ was given.”
The British Official History for this action tells a more dramatic story;
“...air reports gave the (XIV) corps commander a more accurate idea of the situation upon the right of the Guards, where...very few troops had penetrated beyond the first objective. Lord Cavan, therefore, cancelled the 1.30pm attack, and just before 2 pm informed the 6th Division that Straight Trench must be attacked from the north at 7.30pm after an hour’s bombardment by the heavy artillery. The troops of the 6th Division, which had been ordered to deliver the afternoon, attack were stopped in time; but the 167th Brigade, on the immediate right of that division, was unable to Trench map of Leuze and Bouleaux Woods, September 1916. get orders to the 1/8th Middlesex. This battalion, which had great difficulty in moving forward to Leuze Wood over a heavily shelled area, endeavoured to attack at 1.40pm through the 1/1st London and 1/7th Middlesex, but lost heavily to no purpose, and was eventually withdrawn to Leuze Wood. The attack was checked by help of the 21st Bavarian (Division) (left of the 5th Bavarian Division)”.
“At midnight, supported by artillery and trench mortar batteries and bombers, the 1/8th made their attack. The objective was reached, but the Guards on the left did not co-operate as was expected, with the result that when the Germans launched a heavy bombing counter attack the position could not be held and the attacking companies of Middlesex men were bombed back a certain distance. The net result of this small operation was that the 1/8th had gained about 50 yards and had established a new block. Many German’s were killed and 7 prisoners were taken, but the casualties of the 1/8th were heavy;”
In fact 165 men were killed, wounded or listed missing as a result of the actions on the 11th September, after which the battalion withdrew to bivouacs near German Wood. On the 14th September the battalion moved into position between Leuze and Wedge Woods and prepared for another assault on the German lines following day.
The 1/8th Battalion diary for this action reads;
“Leuze Wood. 15th. A general attack on the German lines. The (167th) Brigade assaulted the lines immediately west of Bouleaux Wood. As the wood was still held by the Germans the Brigade had to make a frontal attack with a hostile defensive position on the right flank. The first objective was allotted to the 1st London Regiment who secured part of it. The second objective allotted to the 1/7th Middlesex Regiment was not reached. (1.:30pm) The Battalion was then ordered to the attack but half an hour after the assault was launched the order to ‘dig in’ was given.”
The British Official History for this action tells a more dramatic story;
“...air reports gave the (XIV) corps commander a more accurate idea of the situation upon the right of the Guards, where...very few troops had penetrated beyond the first objective. Lord Cavan, therefore, cancelled the 1.30pm attack, and just before 2 pm informed the 6th Division that Straight Trench must be attacked from the north at 7.30pm after an hour’s bombardment by the heavy artillery. The troops of the 6th Division, which had been ordered to deliver the afternoon, attack were stopped in time; but the 167th Brigade, on the immediate right of that division, was unable to Trench map of Leuze and Bouleaux Woods, September 1916. get orders to the 1/8th Middlesex. This battalion, which had great difficulty in moving forward to Leuze Wood over a heavily shelled area, endeavoured to attack at 1.40pm through the 1/1st London and 1/7th Middlesex, but lost heavily to no purpose, and was eventually withdrawn to Leuze Wood. The attack was checked by help of the 21st Bavarian (Division) (left of the 5th Bavarian Division)”.
Bouleaux Wood, 16th - 17th Sept 1917
On the 16th September the battalion took over the trenches north of Leuze Wood and west of Bouleaux Wood, relieving the 1st Londons from the trench they’d captured the previous day. The next day on the 17th Charles suffered a shrapnel wound to the face. The only related entry in the Battalion diary for this day reads;
“Constant bombing attacks on the flanks in Bouleaux wood”.
Charles was treated at number 48 Casualty Clearing Station at Gronetoron, before his evacuation to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen where he spent two days recovering from his wound. On the 22nd of September he was discharged and proceeded to the 5th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, before rejoining his Battalion on the 4th October. On the 3rd February 1917 he was granted his Good Conduct Badge.
“Constant bombing attacks on the flanks in Bouleaux wood”.
Charles was treated at number 48 Casualty Clearing Station at Gronetoron, before his evacuation to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen where he spent two days recovering from his wound. On the 22nd of September he was discharged and proceeded to the 5th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, before rejoining his Battalion on the 4th October. On the 3rd February 1917 he was granted his Good Conduct Badge.
First Battle of the Scarp
On the 9th Of April 1917, the 56th Division took part in the Arras offensive in the battle that became known as the First Battle of the Scarpe. This offensive produced some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Charles suffered gunshot wounds to both legs and his left arm in the assault on the village of Neuville Vitesse, described below from the 56th Division history.
“The assault started at 07:45...the 8th Middlesex were at first delayed by uncut wire, but soon entered the ruined village. Just before reaching the site of the church they found themselves confronted by a pocket of determined Germans with several machine guns. Working around the flanks of this pocket, bombers and riflemen succeeded in enveloping the enemy, so that just before 11 o’clock 68 survivors surrendered with 4 machine guns. The Bn then cleared the rest of Neuville Vitasse and were in touch with the 3rd Londons...”
Charles was evacuated to the 16th General Hospital Le Treport were he died of his wounds on the 11th of April
1917. He is buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport. His obituary published in the Middlesex and Buckinghamshire Advertiser and Gazette on the 4th of May 1917, included the following excerpt from a
letter sent to his parents by an unnamed officer.
“I am sorry to say, your son was wounded yesterday in the left arm and legs. The bone of the arm is fractured and the legs have quite a number of small wounds, but none should give serious trouble. He was most carefully dressed by a Canadian doctor, and was very brave whilst the arm was being put right. He has no wounds in the vital parts of the body. So far as one can judge there should be no permanent disablement, nor is there any danger to his life. The battle was a great success and our losses comparatively light”.
25 men from the 1/8th Battalion were killed in action during the assault on the village of Neuville Vitasse on 9 April, including two men from Uxbridge.
On the 16th of August 1917, Charles’ family received his personal effects, which consisted of letters, photos, cards, 2 pipes (broken), 2 testaments, 1 purse, 3 pencils, 1 comb, 2 buttons, 1 coin, 1 case lead refills, 1 religious book, 1 pocket wallet and 1 cigarette maker. His father signed for his 1914-15 Star on 14th July 1920 and the Victory Medal and British War Medal on September the 20 1921.
Charles’ older brother George embarked for France in August 1914 with the 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps. He was captured in late 1914, surviving the conflict as a prisoner of war at the Gustrow camp in Northern Germany and was later interned in Switzerland. Charles’ cousin James served with the 13th Royal Fusiliers, and later the 16th Royal West Kents, whilst his youngest brother Benjamin served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
“The assault started at 07:45...the 8th Middlesex were at first delayed by uncut wire, but soon entered the ruined village. Just before reaching the site of the church they found themselves confronted by a pocket of determined Germans with several machine guns. Working around the flanks of this pocket, bombers and riflemen succeeded in enveloping the enemy, so that just before 11 o’clock 68 survivors surrendered with 4 machine guns. The Bn then cleared the rest of Neuville Vitasse and were in touch with the 3rd Londons...”
Charles was evacuated to the 16th General Hospital Le Treport were he died of his wounds on the 11th of April
1917. He is buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport. His obituary published in the Middlesex and Buckinghamshire Advertiser and Gazette on the 4th of May 1917, included the following excerpt from a
letter sent to his parents by an unnamed officer.
“I am sorry to say, your son was wounded yesterday in the left arm and legs. The bone of the arm is fractured and the legs have quite a number of small wounds, but none should give serious trouble. He was most carefully dressed by a Canadian doctor, and was very brave whilst the arm was being put right. He has no wounds in the vital parts of the body. So far as one can judge there should be no permanent disablement, nor is there any danger to his life. The battle was a great success and our losses comparatively light”.
25 men from the 1/8th Battalion were killed in action during the assault on the village of Neuville Vitasse on 9 April, including two men from Uxbridge.
On the 16th of August 1917, Charles’ family received his personal effects, which consisted of letters, photos, cards, 2 pipes (broken), 2 testaments, 1 purse, 3 pencils, 1 comb, 2 buttons, 1 coin, 1 case lead refills, 1 religious book, 1 pocket wallet and 1 cigarette maker. His father signed for his 1914-15 Star on 14th July 1920 and the Victory Medal and British War Medal on September the 20 1921.
Charles’ older brother George embarked for France in August 1914 with the 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps. He was captured in late 1914, surviving the conflict as a prisoner of war at the Gustrow camp in Northern Germany and was later interned in Switzerland. Charles’ cousin James served with the 13th Royal Fusiliers, and later the 16th Royal West Kents, whilst his youngest brother Benjamin served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
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