Heslop’s Local Advertiser 20/07/1917

Lance Corporal H.T. Sloan.

Lance Corporal Henry Thompson Sloan, of the 9th Yorks., has been awarded the Military Medal. He is the eldest son of Mr. James Sloan, road foreman to Felling Council.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Henry Thompson Sloan was born 1886 at South Shields, County Durham, one of 13 children he was the eldest, first born of 6 sons, 5 daughters and 2 gender unknown of whom only 9 survived. His father James Sloan Snr native of Carlisle born 1863 and mother Hannah Bell Thompson born 1863 at South Shields were married at St. Mary’s Church, South Shields, June 23rd 1883. Employed as a road paver he and Hannah settled at 58, Maxwell Street, Westoe with Henry (5) and Henrietta (1). Ten years later they had moved to St. Hilda’s Terrace, South Shields, his father was now a drainage inspector and Henry (15) was employed as a commercial clerk.

Hannah Bell Sloan nee Thompson died at South Shields in 1907 aged 44 years, by 1911 James had transferred his family to Council Yard, Felling, now employed by Felling Urban Council as a general foreman (roads). Daughter Florence May took care of the family, Frederick (15) worked at the colliery as a banksman, Jennie (13), John (11), Gladys (8) and Robert (7) were scholars.

Henry Thompson Sloan was no longer living with his father as within 6 months of his mother’s demise in 1907 he had married at South Shields to Matilda Reddy, 8 years his senior. In 1911 they were living at 3, Derby Terrace with their 2-year-old son Henry Norman Sloan. He was employed as a car conductor for the South Shields Corporation Tramways which had taken over the horse-drawn tramway network in 1906, during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1911 their son James was born.

On the outbreak of war Henry enlisted assigned as Private 12357 to the 9th Battalion Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment, 69th Brigade, 23rd Division. The main body of the Division departed to France in August 1915 arriving at Boulogne on the 26th and proceeded to Merris-Vieux-Benquin area for trench familiarisation alongside the more experienced 20th and 27th Divisions. Private Sloan joined his Regiment in the field September 30th 1915, just after the conclusion of the Battle of Loos, the 9th Battalion stayed in the sector until being relieved in January 1916.

During March tunnelling companies were formed by taking experienced miners from the ranks and transferring then to the Royal Engineers, however they returned to the ranks mid April when the Regiment took over the Souchez-Angres front just before the attack at Vimy Ridge. As of June intensive training began in preparation for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme. They were in action during the Battle of Albert including the capture of Contalmaison, the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, the Battle of Le Transloy including the capture of Le Sars in 1916.

They were at the Battle of Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the Battles of Passchendaele in Belgium during 1917 before the Division was moved to Italy concentrating between Mantua and Marcaria and taking over the front line December 4th. Before returning to France in September 1918 they participated on the Asiago Plateau. In France they were attached to the 74th Brigade, 25th Division during the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance to Victory.

After Armistice the 9th Battalion was involved with salvage work near Cambrai, in the first 3 months of 1919 men who had enlisted before January 1916 were demobilised, this included the now Lance Corporal Henry Thompson Sloan. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal as well as the Military Medal and Bar for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty when under fire in battle on land. Recipients of this honour were entitled to use the letters M.M. after their name.

Matilda Sloan nee Reddy died aged 50 years in 1928 at South Shields, Henry Thompson Sloan in 1945 aged 59 years at Islington, London.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.