Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Gary Mitchell‎, Australia and New Zealand in WWI

For my cousin Jeff Stead.
Private Abraham Parker Slater, 35th Battalion, wharf labourer from 54 Henry Street, Tighes Hill, New South Wales, laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery on the 20th July 1929, age 42. ANGLICAN 2-142. 22.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134493067- funeral notice does not state service.
Wounded in action - 7.6.1917 (Battle of Messines, gassed), 30.4.1918 (gassed), 22.8.1918 (GSW, left arm). Invalided home January 1919.

From the Harrower Collection - by Natalie Crowe

Pte Abraham Parker Slater

Born: 1887. Lambton, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:32229/1887.

Married: 1910. Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:11772/1910.

Wife: Winifred Ada May Slater. nee: Wilkes.

Died: 20th of November 1929. Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:1580/1929.

Father: Abraham Slater

Mother: Catherine Slater. nee: Farnham, 2nd marriage

INFORMATION
Abraham Parker Slater enlisted with D Company 36th Battalion AIF on the 14th of March 1916 and left Sydney on board HMAT A72 "Beltana" on the 13th of May 1916 and disembarked at Devonport on the 9th of July 1916. Abraham was marched to Larks Hill, Durrington Army Camp and was later sent to hospital suffering from Influenza on the 29th of September. 

He left hospital and was sent to Wareham on the 27th of October and back to Larks Hill on the 8th of December before proceeding overseas for France on the 30th of December 1916. Abraham was taken on strength with the 36th Battalion on the 11th of January 1917 where he remained untin being attached to the 9th Machine-Gun Company on the 18th of May.

Abraham was Wounded in Action; 1st Occassion on the 7th of June 1917 buring the battle of MESSINES RIDGE where he was Gassed and sent to hospital for treatment before re-joining the 9th Machine-Gun Company on the 28th of June. It was not long before Abraham was back in hospital, but this time he was suffering from Gastroenteritis and sent to Abbeville to regain his strength.

On the 3rd of November Abraham returned to the front line but this time back with the 36th Battalion. He was sent to "Muscketry School" in France on the 2nd of March 1918 and then taken on strength with the 35th Battalion on the 30th of April. Abraham was Wounded in Action; 2nd occassion on his first day with the 35th. He was again Gassed and sent to hospital for treatment.

He re-joined the 35th on the 22nd of May and was sent straigth back into action where he remained until he was Wounded in Action; 3rd occassionthis time receiving a Gun-Shot wound to the Right Arm and sent to the 5th General Hospital for treatment on the 24th of August 1918. Abraham was evacuated to England on the same day on board the "Gloster Castle" and admitted to the Duchess Connought Hospital at Taplow.

Abraham remained in hospital before being returned to Australia on the 6th of January 1919 and was discharged Medically Unfit on the 17th of April 1919.

Abraham was a Wharf Labourer from Tighe's Hill' Newcastle upon enlistment where he lived with his wife Winifred and brother Edmund Slater.

Abraham's British War Medal:43829 to PTE 1238 A P SLATER 36 BN AIF was aquired in August 2005 with his brothers Victory Medal and are now in the collection.

Abraham served in the Great War with his brother Private: 1503 Edmund Young Edgar SLATER 35th Bn AIF and cousin Private: 2383 John SLATER 36th Bn AIF Killed in Action and Step Brother Sergeant: 176 Gordon Charles FARNHAM D.C.M, M.M. 3rd Field Ambulance, B Squadron.

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery

Served in The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.

91 years ago today, on the Saturday afternoon of the 20th July 1929 (3 burials on this day), Private Abraham Parker Slater, 35th Battalion, wharf labourer from 54 Henry Street, Tighes Hill, New South Wales and Adamstown, N.S.W., father of one, was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 41. ANGLICAN 2-142. 22.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134493067 - funeral notice does not state service.

Born at Lambton, New South Wales on the 19th July 1887 to Abraham (died 1890, buried North Waratah Cemetery) and Catherine (died 1931, buried Cessnock Cemetery) Slater nee Stead (married Thomas Farnham, 1896, Greta); husband of Winifred Ada May Slater nee Wilks (married 1910, Cessnock, N.S.W., died?), Abraham enlisted March 1916 with the 36th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137107537
Wounded in action - 7.6.1917 (Battle of Messines, gassed), 30.4.1918 (gassed), 22.8.1918 (GSW, left arm), admitted to hospital 16.7.1917 (gastritis).

Mr Slater returned home January 1919, discharged medically unfit 17th April 1919.

Abraham’s name has been inscribed on the Newcastle Wharf Labourers' Union Roll of Honor (photo, unveiled date unknown) and the Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honour Board (1), unveiled on the 26th February 1916.

Member of The City of Newcastle Lodge of Mark Master Masons, No-15, and the Newcastle Royal Arch Chapter, N.S.W., No-11.

My Cousin Jeff Stead informed me that Abraham was resting in an unmarked grave, so November 2019 I placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.

http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/index.php/war-heroes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&aso=exact&s_f=id&data_search=14883#grave-photo-1

I also placed a Memorial Cross to honour the supreme sacrifice of younger brother Private Edmond Young Edgar Slater, Reg No-1503, 35th Battalion (Machine Gun Section), who fell on the 1st March 1917 at Armentieres, France. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1661347

An application for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip submitted December 2019, declined February 2020 (attention Mike Lee, death certificate states cause of death, cholelithiasis and toxaemia).

Jeff has also provided extensive family history.
Older brother Robert Maudsley (Reg No-2156, 34th Battalion, born 1883, Lambton, N.S.W., died 1950, Kiama, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.
Younger brother Edmond Young Edgar (Reg No-1503, 35th Battalion, born 1893, Greta, N.S.W., K.I.A.-1st March 1917) memorialised same location.

Half brother Peter Clarke Farnham (Reg No-3098, 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion, born 1896, Greta, N.S.W., died 1972, Cessnock, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.

Step brother Gordon Charles Farnham (D.C.M., M.M., M.I.D., Reg No-151, 3rd Light Trench Mortar Battery, born 1888, Cessnock N.S.W., died 1921, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W.)

Lest We Forget