Bedford House Cemetery
Bedford House Cemetery 2016
Paulline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Slater was born 1891 in Ferryhill, one of three children, one boy and two girls, he was the eldest. His father Robert Slater was born in Coxhoe (1867) and married Mary Goundry of Bishop Auckland (1864 -1938) at St Anne’s Bishop Auckland, February 22nd 1890. At the age of 14 Robert was employed as a coal miner, an occupation he continued to do all his life. After his marriage he moved to Pit Row in Coxhoe where Joseph was born. Joseph at the age of 20 was employed at Windlestone Colliery as a rolley-way man, his job was to keep the rolley-way (path), where the horse drawn wagons of coal were pulled to and from the coal face, clear of obstacles, his father was a deputy overman. In 1911 the family were living at 15 South View Terrace, Windlestone Colliery.
Joseph enlisted in Gateshead, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, 132nd Field Ambulance, attached to the 39th Division. The Division was formed in early August 1915, moved to Aldershot in the September and on to Witley in the October where full strength was reached. The Division minus the 118th Brigade, which required further training, was sent to France in late February 1916. They took part in all the major battles on the Western Front including the Battles of the Somme 1916, in 1917 the Battles of Pelikem Ridge, Langemark, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the Second Battle of Passchendaele. November 15th 1917 Private 89131 Joseph Slater, R.A.M.C. died, killed in action. Joseph is interred at Bedford House Cemetery, West - Vlaanderens, near Ypres in Belgium, grave 4 II F7. His headstone bears a biblical dedication, at the request of and paid for, by his father and reads, “Nevertheless Not What I Will But What Thou Wilt. Mark 14C 36V”. Joseph was 27 years old and unmarried.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Joseph Slater is remembered at Chilton on C107.04,C107.12 and C107.14 (Darlington D40.039)
