Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Herbert William Clement Slack

Early life and service

Herbert Slack is an Australian man who was born on the 25th of February 1928, in Waradale, Adelaide, South Australia. Herbert grew up in the suburb of York, now known as Beverley. His parents names were Herbert William Clement and Dorothy Violet Wooding. Herbert loved sports, playing both football and cricket for Flinders Park. Initially Herbert wanted to be a Jockey after finishing school, as his dad trained horses. However, neither of his parents supported him being a jockey. He then went on to be an apprentice carpenter, a position he held for eighteen months before enlisting into the Royal Australian Air Force at just 17 years old, lying about his age to join, as many young men were during at that time. He enlisted on the 23rd of April 1945 desiring to serve as a cook.

Prior to Hebert enlisting while he was still in school, he met a girl named Evelyn Dawn, who went by the name Kath, when he was just thirteen, and although she had a boyfriend at the time, he would look for her after to school just to talk. While he was away during training, he sent her a postcard with a photo of himself and a message that read, “From your ever-loving husband, Herb.” At that point they weren’t even dating yet. 

Herberts dad was a trooper in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and served in Gallipoli, which influenced Herberts decision to serve his country. While Herbert was training for war his mother fell seriously ill with tuberculosis. He was granted permission to go home to see her, but she passed away shortly after his arrival. After he was discharged, he applied for re-entry to the RAAF in March 1945, but they told him that if any vacancies for Trainee Cook arise, he would be contacted immediately.

Herbert sent a letter in September 1946 asking to be discharged from the RAAF since he had found suitable employment and preferred to settle down to civilian life.

Life after war

After he was discharged, he recalls walking down to the phone box to ask for his carpentry apprenticeship back but could never work up the courage to call. He went on to work for PBD as painter. He always wanted to open his own business but never did.

Slack family gathering (2018)

All Herberts traditions maintain, and we all still get together as often as we can.
 
Herbert and Kath did indeed get married and went on to have six children: John, Geoff, Ian, Stephen, Jenny and Cheryl. All Herbert ever wanted was to raise a family in a nice house and be able to provide a good life for them. Herbert and Kath lived in the home Herb inherited from his parents in York (now Beverley) and then bought a house in Allenby Gardens. Herb and Kath had 8 grandkids and 11 great grandkids. He was a big family man and made sure that everyone in the family whether that be his own children, and their partners or his closest friends got together on every special occasion or simply whenever they could. Herb made all close friends and family come to his home every Wednesday night for a barbeque which carried on for years and years. Herb and Kath stayed together until Kath sadly passed away on the 24th of February 2014. Herbert lived the rest of his life surrounded by his children, close friends and grandchildren until he ultimately passed away to natural causes on July 12th, 2020.