Name
Edward Fred Slade
9 Dec 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/08/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman/Private
3604
London Regiment *1
9th (County of London) Bn.
"C" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Row E, Grave 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley, Church of Ascension Memorial, Bedmond, Audit Office Euston Station Memorial, London
Biography
Edward Frederick was born on 9th December 1892 at Abbots Langley and baptised 5 February 1893 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley. He was the son of Edward Henry and Kate Slade (nee Gamby), who had married 23 December 1891 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley, Herts. His Father (Edward Henry) died 30 October 1940 aged 71; Kate died 9 May 1958 aged 90; both in Abbot’s Langley. Edward had 2 younger sisters, Kathleen born in 1896 and Queenie Doreen, born in 1901. At the time of the 1901 Census the family lived at Abbots Road, Abbots Langley. They moved to Sunny Mount, Bedmond around the time of the 1911 Census. Edward was educated at Watford Grammar School from September 1905 to December 1907 and also at the Guildhall School of Music. At the outbreak of War, in August 1914, was employed as a clerk in the Audit Department, with the London & NW Railway at Euston. He had followed his father into railway work. Edward senior was recorded as a Railway Clerk in the 1911 Census.
Edward Fred enlisted at Kings Langley on 17th November 1914 with the 9th County of London Battalion, Queen Victoria Rifles, as Rifleman 3604 and went to France on 6th June 1915. He was accidently drowned when he was off duty and bathing to the rear of the British trenches (South of Albert) on the Somme. Many sources confirmed that he died on 12th August 1915, although the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine recorded his death as 13th August. News of Edward’s death made it back to Abbots Langley in time for Vicar Parnell to include an obituary in the September 1916 edition of the Parish Magazine: “We have sustained another sad loss. Edward Slade was accidentally drowned while bathing while off duty, somewhere in France, on August 13th (sic). His body was recovered three days afterwards and buried in consecrated ground. He joined the Royal (sic) Victoria Rifles shortly after the outbreak of war, and had been for three months on active service at the front, where he had taken part in much severe fighting, hence the manner of his death was particularly pathetic. Since he joined as a small boy he has been a keen member of our Choir, of which his father is a senior member. He was an organist of considerable promise, and not infrequently had accompanied the service in Church. Of a very retiring disposition he did not readily make friendships, but those made were very real, and those who knew and valued his friendship will sorely miss him. We deeply mourn his loss; we are proud to have his name on our roll of honour, and we offer to his parents and family our sincerest sympathy.”
Edward was also recorded in the De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-19 (a collection of biographies of over 26,000 casualties of the Great War), where it was noted that he was a student of the Guildhall School of Music and a choirman and deputy organist at the Abbots Langley Parish Church. His company Officer wrote “that his death was a great loss to the company, as he was an able and willing soldier under all circumstances.”
He was buried at Chapilly Communal Cemetery in the Somme Region of France, and listed on the War Memorial at Abbots Langley. He was also commemorated on the War Memorial at the Church of the Ascension at Bedmond. His brother in law Edward Wild, who married his sister Kathleen in 1918, served with the Royal Navy and survived the War
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Edward’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There are articles about Edward in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 21 August 1915 and 28 August 1915; also articles in the Watford Illustrated dated 6 March 1915 and 4 September 1915; plus an In Memoriam from the Grammar School in the issue dated 25 December 1915.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Wilfred in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 16 January 1915; an article in the Watford Illustrated dated 27 March 1915; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 1 January 1916, 30 December 1916, 5 January 1918 and 4 January 1919.
*1 Probably more correctly (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
