Henry Arthur SLADE

Henry Arthur Slade was born on the 8 December 1893 to Edward Slade and Jane Isabella Macgregor and was one of 6 children. Alfred Joseph born 1886, Margaret Buchan 1887, Jane Isabella 1891 then Henry Arthur 1894, Alice Ann 1897 and Edith Dorothy in 1898. Henry’s mother Jane Isabella died in 1903 and his father remarried to Hannah Jane Milner in 1904. His father Edward died in 1914.

Henry’s brother Alfred also joined the army and fought in France. He returned home safely in July 1919.

Prior to his service in the 15th Battalion, Henry served in the Far North Queensland Kennedy Regiment, known as the Dirty 500. Members of the Dirty 500, including Henry, landed on Thursday Island on 16 August 1914 from the troopship “Kanowna”, to take part in the capture of German New Guinea. An incident on board the “Kanowna” involving the firemen forced the immediate return of the troops to Townsville on 18 August 1914; Henry was discharged the same day.

On his enlistment in Cairns, Henry was 21 years of age, his occupation a Hairdresser, his next of kin was A.J. Slade. His height was 5 feet 7 inches, weighed 126 pounds with fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. His religion was Church of England.

Henry Arthur Slade was killed in action on the 5 May 1915 at Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey and is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey.