Photo: James Pasby

Newcastle Journal 19/03/1915

Obituary – A North Shields Veteran

The death has occurred at North Shields of Mr James Sly, a Crimean veteran at the advanced age of 82 years.

He was a member of the 42nd Foot (Old Black Watch) and during his declining days has been cared for by the North Shields and District Veterans Association which established him in a little house of his own at 24 Front Street Chirton. His funeral will take place tomorrow at Preston Cemetery and will be of a military character.

The Veterans Association has also made arrangements for the funeral at the same time of a retired artillery man Mr Haste who died at his residence 169 Stephenson Street North Shields at the age of 41 years.

The remains of the two ex-soldiers will be conveyed to Tynemouth Parish Church where the vicar (Rev. R.E. Holmes) will conduct the funeral service. The coffins will then be placed upon the same wagon and will be escorted by a band and firing party from Tynemouth Castle.

Newcastle Journal 22/03/1915

The remains of James Sly aged 82, formerly of the 42nd Foot ( the Old Black Watch), a Crimean veteran and Gunner Haste late of the R.G.A., of North Shields were interred together on Saturday afternoon at Preston Cemetery, the arrangements for the double funeral having been carried out by the Tynemouth Castle authorities acting in conjunction with the North Shields and District Veterans’ Association. The two coffins were taken to Christ Church North Shields, a “minute bell” being tolled whilst the mourners were assembling. The funeral service was conducted by the vicar Rev. R.E. Holmes. Afterwards the coffins were placed side by side upon a temporary gun carriage and escorted by a large detachment of soldiers to the burial ground.

A detachment of the Royal Garrison Artillery headed the procession. Then came the Tynemouth R.G.A. (T) band under bandmaster Fairgreaves playing the Dead March. Following the temporary gun carriage flanked by the military under bearers were the private mourners, members and officials of the Veterans’ Association, members of the National Reserve, a detachment of Sherwood Foresters, No 1 Company Durham Royal Fortress Engineers under Captain Basil Hall, troops from Tynemouth Castle and a detachment of the Tyneside R.G.A. (T) under Captain Turnbull.

Included amongst the representatives of the Veterans Association were Councillor John Frater (Chairman) Mr J.T. Cant, (Hon. Secretary) Mr Robert Darnell (Assistant Hon. Secretary) Mr Wm Proud (Hon. Treasurer), Capt Gray, Sergt. Brett, Mr Alex Fyall jun. Etc.

At the cemetery the coffins were placed in adjoining graves, the soldiers being drawn up in the form of a square and after the committal service had been read by the vicar, Rev. R.E. Holmes, the Last Post was sounded upon the bugles.The funeral aroused a great amount of interest in the district and thousands of people lined the route to the cemetery.