Photo: Pauline Priano
Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John James Slee, one of 6 children of whom only 5 survived, was the eldest of 2 brother and had 1 elder and 3 younger sisters. His parents, George William Slee, born, February 17th 1854, at 102, Side, Parish of St. Nicholas, baptised April 16th and Elizabeth Bowron born 1857, were natives of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, where they married in the parish church of St. Philip in 1884. Elizabeth gave birth to Mary Jane in 1885, baptised January 11th, John James 1887, baptised January 16th, Elizabeth Ann also known as Daisy, March 13th 1888, baptised April 11th and Lucy born November 16th 1890 was baptised December 17th. In 1891 they were living at 6, Mansfield Street, in the suburb of Westgate, Newcastle, George William was employed as a carpet planner. George William Jnr was born during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1892 but unfortunately died within 3 months, their youngest child Nora, November 15th 1897 was baptised December 23rd. The Slee family had moved into three rooms at 169, Ellesmere Road, Newcastle, by 1911, George William was employed as a shop labourer at an engineering factory, John James (24) was an insurance agent, his sisters were employed as clerks, Elizabeth Ann (22) for a typewriting company, Lucy (20) worked for a drapery business, Nora (14) remained at home with her mother.
Upon the outbreak of hostilities with Germany all regiments were ordered to raise new battalions, part of Kitchener’s New Armies. John James enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and posted as Private 5047 to the 1st/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Territorial Force, part of the Tyne Defences but also supplied men for the draft. Private Slee did not depart until post January 1916 and also served as Private 29564 8th (Service) Battalion, 1/7th Battalion and 11th Battalion as Private 201941.
In the absence of his service history it is impossible to know his exact movements, however, it is probable that he served with the Northumberland Fusiliers on the Somme in 1916 before moving to Belgium, during the spring of 1917. The Nivelle Offensive during April and May did not achieve its aims and threw the Anglo-French strategy into disarray. The subsequent attack at Messines Ridge was to force the Germans to move reserves to Flanders from the Arras and Aisne sectors relieving pressure on the French. The aim was to capture German defences on the ridge which ran from Ploegsteert Wood through to Messines and Wytschaele to Mt. Sorrel. Three lines of attack began June 7th and lasted until the 14th.
Private 201941 John James Slee 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Messines, June 7th 1917. His sacrifice is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, in the town of Ypres, Belgium, commemorating 54,606 British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed on the Ypres salient, 1914 to August 15th 1917 whose bodies or place of burial have never been identified or found. Private Slee was 30 years of age and single.
His father George William received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. With the death of his only surviving son this line of the Slee family ceased to exist.
George William Slee died, July 5th 1935, aged 81 years, his death was preceded by that of his wife Elizabeth Slee nee Bowron, aged 75 years, January 4th 1933, both are interred within St. Nicholas Cemetery, Fenham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
John James’ eldest sister Mary Jane married George Thomas Young in 1906 and died in 1954.
Elizabeth Ann did not marry, in 1939 she was living at 8, Middleton Avenue, Newcastle, with her sisters employed as a wages clerk, Lucy a clerk engaged in war work, and Nora a drapery shop assistant., Elizabeth Ann Slee (78) died in 1967, Lucy Slee (81) August 31st 1972, Nora Slee (77) of St. Anthony’s Nursing Home, Whitley Bay died November 2nd 1975.
It should be noted that the medal card of this soldier states that he was discharged under King’s Regulations 392(xvi), “no longer physically fit for war service.”
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John James Slee is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
