Boy Soldier...

Just like George Bently Guymer who

I wrote about in January, I have discovered another ‘boy soldier’ from our region.

George Harold Slade was born in Killarney on 16 September 1899 to John and Alice Jane Slade (later Tytherleigh). He attended school at Urbenville and was working as a labourer in Woodenbong, New South Wales when he travelled to Warwick to enlist on the 7 January 1916. The details on his enlistment papers describe him as being of dark complexion with brownish grey eyes and black hair. He stood at

5 foot 9 inches tall. He listed his age as 21 years and held the rank of Private in the 12 Infantry Battalion.

His Service Record indicates he embarked overseas aboard the “Hawkes Bay” on the 20 April 1916 and proceeded to France in August 1916, was sent to hospital at the 1st Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples on the 6 January 1917. Upon his discharge from the hospital George re-joined the unit on the 7 February 1917.

He was reported Killed In Action on the 15 April 1917 in the Red Cross Society Wounded & Missing file where previ- ously he was listed as missing. There was no trace of his body. His correct age at the time of his death was 17 years and 7 months making him one month younger than George Guymer.

His name appears at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, VillersBretonneux, Picardie, France, Bristol (Arnos Vale) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bristol, England, United Kingdom, with the notation of No known grave – “Known Unto God”.

George’s name also appears on the following memorials: Australian War

Memorial Roll of Honour, Urbenville Memorial Gates, Urbenville Public School Centenary of World War One, VillersBretonneux (Australian National Memorial –France) and the Woodenbong and District Roll of Honour WWI.

The Australian War Memorial will project George Harold Slade’s name onto the exterior of the Hall of Memory next week on the 22 March 2023 at 11.21pm NSW time.

If you have any further information about George, please contact Deborah 0414 852 492.

Gone too young …