Name
George Stanley Sleat
18/05/1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/11/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
DM2/154806
Army Service Corps
"E" Siege Park, attached IX Corps Heavy Artillery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BUSIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Plot VIII, Row C, Grave 13.
France
Headstone Inscription
OF BUSHEY, HERTS LOVE THINE ENEMY
UK & Other Memorials
Sun Engraving Company of Watford, Memorial. [Now in Watford Museum],
Watford Printers Memorial. [Now in Watford Museum],
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
George Stanley Sleat, born in Oxhey, (or possibly Bushey) Herts on 18th May 1890, was one of four children, Martin (Born 1889), Harold (B 1893) and John (B 1902), born to Martin Sleat (1854 – 1920) and Alice Sleat (1863 – 1927) (nee Pritchard) of Upper Paddock Road, Bushey/Oxhey, Herts. His father was a railway clerk and the family lived initially at 72 Upper Paddock, before moving later to 51 Upper Paddock Road.
His parents married 13 August 1887 at St Pancras Parish Church, London. Martin died 27 February 1920 in Bushey aged 65, and was buried 4 March at St James’, Bushey; Alice died 1927 in Bushey aged 66, and was buried 5 October, also at St James’.
All the Sleat children were born In Oxhey and grew up there. George became a fine etcher for photographic company, but the 1911 census shows he was out of work at that time.
On the 1891 Census, aged 10 months he lived in Bushey, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, aged 10 he still lived in Bushey, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a fine etcher out of work aged 20, he lived in Oxhey, with his parents and three siblings.
Wartime Service
George enlisted and was posted to the Army Service Corps, with the service number DM2/154806. He served on the Western Front and was killed in action on 17 November 1918, aged 28.
He is remembered with honour at Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension in France and is commemorated on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey, Herts.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died in France.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, George’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing, and also appears to have no entry in the Soldiers Died in the Great War dataset.
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for George in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 30 November 1918.
His father, M. E. Sleat Esq, 51 Upper Paddock Road, Oxhey, Watford, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "OF BUSHEY, HERTS LOVE THINE ENEMY". His younger brother , Harold David Sleat, was killed in Belgium on 16th April 1918. The value of his effects were £40-6s-0d, including his War Gratuity which went to his father Martin. His mother Alice received a Dependents Pension of 18/- a week for both son's.
Additional information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
