In Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt is the Commonwealth War Grave of C/MX 61252 Engine Room Artificer 4th Class C.M. Slater [sic] serving on H.M.S. Dido with the Royal Navy  who died 29th May 1941.

In Darlington West Cemetery is a headstone which reads:

In affectionate remembrance of
our loved one
Charles Howard Slater, E.R.A., R.N.,
beloved husband of Noreen Slater
and treasured only son of
Jack & Jennie Slater
killed in action & buried at sea
May 29th 1941, aged 23 years.
“Only goodnight beloved not farewell”.

Also the above
Jack Slater
died 23rd April 1957
aged 69 years.

Also the above
Jennie Slater
died 29th April 1960
aged 68 years.

John James Slater was an iron turner, living in Darlington, who in 1912 married local girl Jane Welford, and they had two children Charles Howard born on 10th February 1918 and Dorothy (b.1921).

It is not known when Howard joined the Royal Navy, but in the last quarter of 1940 he was at home in Darlington when he married Noreen Parkin.

In 1942 Howard Slater was an Engine Room Artificer 4th Class serving on the Royal Navy vessel H.M.S. Dido.  In May the ship was in the Mediterranean along with cruisers Orion and Ajax, assisting in the evacuation of British troops from Crete to Alexandria, Egypt.

On 29th May Dido was hit in an attack from a Stuka dive bomber at 8.15am, which struck the ship’s B turret.  All twelve of the gun crew were killed along with 15 sailors and 19 soldiers below decks, a further 38 men were wounded.  One of those killed was E.R.A. Howard Slater.

Charles Howard Slater is remembered at Darlington on D40.035 and on our List of Ships’ Crews.