Name
Harold David Sleat
12/05/1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/04/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
85453
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
33rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 11.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium, to the missing
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Oxhey War Memorial
Pre War
Harold David Sleat, born in Oxhey, Herts, on 12 May 1892, was one of four children, Martin (Born 1889) George (B 1890) and John (B 1902), born to Martin Sleat (1854 – 1920) and Alice Sleat (1863 – 1927) (nee Pritchard), of Upper Paddock Road. His father was a railway clerk and the family lived initially at 72 Upper Paddock, before moving later to 51 Upper Paddock Road.
Harold was Baptised on 26th August 1892, at St Matthews Church, Oxhey.
All the Sleat children were born in Oxhey and grew up there. Harold, like his father, became a railway clerk.
Wartime Service
Harold enlisted for a Sort Service (Duration of War) at Woolwich, London on 11th November 1914, posted to the Army Pay Corps with the service number 3324.
On 12th December 1916, he was transferred to the 25th Training Reserve Battalion and then posted to the Machine Gun Corps on 9th February 1917, with the service number 85453. Serving at home from 11th November 1914 to 14th April 1917, when he embarked from Folkstone to Boulogne, France.
Harold served on the Western Front and was reported missing on 16th April 1918, his death was excepted on that day, he was aged 25.
He is remembered with honour at Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing in Belgium and is commemorated on the memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey. His older brother, George Stanley Sleat, was killed in France on 17 November 1918
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £22-2s-5d, Pay Owing and £20, War Gratuity which went to his father Martin. His mother Alice received a Dependents Pension of 18/- a week for both son's. Son of Martin and Alice Sleat, of 51, Upper Paddock Rd., Oxhey, Watford. Additional Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
