Anthony Edward King SLINGSBY

30 October 1914

OFFICERS GAZETTED

The following were gazetted on Wednesday:– 7th Battalion the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment – Captain Charles M. Bateman to be major (temporary) ; Lieutenant Kenneth Nicholson to be captain (temporary): Second-Lieutenant Anthony. E.K. Slingsby to be lieutenant (temporary).

28 May 1915

NEWS FROM A SILSDEN SOLDIER

In a letter to Mr. Ambrose Longbottom, of Kirkgate, Silsden, Private Sam Bancroft, of one of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiments, says:–

“You will be wondering by now how I am getting on amongst it all. Well, I am still in the best of health, and have got accustomed to sleeping under all sorts of conditions. We have been in the trenches twice since I wrote to you last. The first time we were in three days, and then we came out to rest three days in a place where the Germans kept landing a few shells just to let us know they were alive. The second time we were in the trenches four days. We came out on Sunday night, and I expect we shall go in again on Wednesday. We don't get a big lot of rest when we are in the trenches, as we have to keep on the telephone and bullets keep catching the wire and cutting them, and then the fun starts in going out to mend them. I have been out a few times both day and night; it is not very nice to have bullets whistling round you, or a shell bursting not far off. They make us kiss the ground, but Mr. Slingsby always goes out with us, and do you know I would go anywhere with him.

“Well, you will like to know a little about the trenches and the way we get into them. The first time we went in we went down a road and you could keep hearing a bullet pass. There has been a few wounded while going down to the trenches. When we get about 200 yards off we go down the side of a high wall, and there is a good sniper or two who keep letting drive at the wall and we have to keep ducking. When we get into the trenches it is very safe unless we keep our head above the parapet too long. The parapet is about six feet high and made of sand-bags. Most of the firing goes on at night. Each side keeps sending up flares or star shells, and they make it as light as day. The trenches are very fair at present as we have had five days of very fine weather, but when we went in the last time it had been raining, and they were very bad. We were nearly up to the knees in mud. It must have been bad in winter as we had only a shower or two to make such a state of affairs as mentioned. Another thing that has been done now is that we have made a trench to go down instead of going down the road.

“How are the Boy Scouts getting on at Silsden? I had a P.C. from Mr. Berry, and he said they were going strong. I hope you have a good time if you go into camp anywhere. I am not doing bad for cigarettes. I have had a good few sent out, and we get a weekly allowance, which runs about 20 each, and one ounce of tobacco, so we are not doing bad. But we smoke nearly all the time, both day and night.”

Mr. Longbottom is Scoutmaster of the Parish Church Boy Scouts, of which Private Bancroft was formerly a prominent member.

23 July 1915

SLINGSBY – July 14th, 1915, killed in action, Anthony Edward King Slingsby, of the 6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, son of John Arthur Slingsby, Carla Beck, Carleton-in-Craven, Skipton, aged 26 years.

23 July 1915

ANOTHER SKIPTON OFFICER KILLED – LIEUT. A. E. K. SLINGSBY

There were many expressions of regret in the Craven district when it became known on Monday that Lieut. A. E. K. Slingsby, of the 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. J. A. Slingsby, J.P., and Mrs. Slingsby. of Carla Beck, Carleton, had lost his life while serving his country. The sad intelligence reached Carleton from an unofficial source on Sunday morning and was subsequently confirmed by the military authorities.

Lieut. Slingsby, who was well-known and very popular in this neighbourhood, was first at school at St. Edmund's, Hindhead, Surrey, and subsequently at St. Peter's College, Radley, near Oxford. He then won an Exhibition at Exeter College, Oxford. where he remained in residence four years. During his stay Lieut. Slingsby was Captain of Boats, and President of the College Committee.

Returning to Carleton. he interested himself in the Boy Scout movement, taking over the command of a troop which had been formed in connection with Christ Church, Skipton. Then he became a District Commissioner and later was attached to the Headquarters Staff. Lieut. Slingsby did much to popularise the movement in Craven. He quickly brought his own troop to a state of high efficiency; in fact, for several years they practically carried all before them in the way of trophies at local contests. He instilled into the boys a fine, manly spirit, and there sprang up between them a strong attachment, which was demonstrated in practical fashion when, on Lieut. Slingsby obtaining a commission in the 11th Battalion, the elder lads left the Scouts to go over with him to the Territorials.

The interrupted manoeuvres at Marske in July of last year were the first Lieut. Slingsby attended as a Territorial officer. He mobilised with the Battalion in August, and, after training with them, left for the Front about three months ago. On several occasions since then Lieut. Slingsby has been offered a staff appointment, which meant personal safety, but he refused to leave his ‘boys.’

Information of the sad occurrence arrived at Carleton in a letter received on Sunday morning from a village lad who was formerly groom to Mr. Slingsby at Carla Beck, and is now servant to the Rev. Howard Hall, the Battalion Chaplain. The letter stated that Lieut. Slingsby was killed on July 14, and the writer added that he was just going with his master, ‘The Padre,’ to the funeral.

Mr. Slingsby made inquiries at once at the War Office: the Record Office, York; and of Lieut. Slingsby’s bankers. At 6 p.m. the suggestion of the War Office was that the information should be treated as a rumour, but at 7-30 the Record Office telephoned stating they had heard from the War Office that Lieut. Slingsby had been killed. Absolute confirmation was forthcoming at 9-45 p.m. in the shape of a telegram from Lord Kitchener to the effect that Lieut. Slingsby was killed on July 14th and expressing his sympathy with the family.

Subsequent information which has reached the family shows that Lieut. Slingsby was killed instantaneously by a German sniper while attending to the wires in a shallow trench on the Ypres Canal. At the interment the mourners included the deceased officer’s younger brother and a cousin.
Lieut. Slingsby, who was 26 years of age, was one of four brothers serving their King and Country in the present war. The three survivors are: A. M. Slingsby, Captain & Adjutant 56th Rifles, F.F. (I. A.); S. H. Slingsby, Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy: and P. B. Slingsby, Second-Lieutenant Army Service Corps.

An Officer’s Testimony

An officer of one of the West Riding Brigades, writing under date July 16th and 17th, refers to the death of Lieut. Slingsby, and says: ‘‘One of Lieut. Slingsby’s men had been wounded by a minenwerfer in our front trenches, and he went to talk to him, and comfort him generally. I suppose he did not realise that a lot of the parapet had been blown down, and he got up and was killed. A most gallant chap, and excellent signalling officer, who ought to have been on our staff, but he would not leave his own men. They were devoted to him, And when he was buried by the Rev. S. Howard Hall, senior chaplain, the men broke down entirely and sobbed like children.’’

AN APPRECIATION

A few brief lines of appreciation in addition to the bare facts recorded above, by one who had had the privilege of his acquaintance, may fittingly be added. Lieut. Slingsby disliked fuss and ostentation, and it would not have been his wish that eulogistic reference should be made to his qualities or achievements. His life, however, was an example to others, and as such it carries a moral that ought not to be obscured. Possessed of a charming personality, endowed with high mental and intellectual attainments, he refused to ‘enjoy life,’ in the commonly accepted meaning of the term, and devoted himself to one ideal, the encouragement of a manly patriotism among the boys. The potentialities of the Scout movement took a firm hold upon his imagination. He seized the opportunity, and despite many criticisms from those who suspected in the movement an objectional phase of militarism, he devoted himself body and soul to inculcate in the Boy Scouts loyal patriotism and devotion to King and Country. A sound mind in a sound body was his aim, and he reaped his reward in seeing the Scout movement grow to gigantic proportions. He was encouraged by the ever increasing confidence shown by the public; and lived to see the suspicion with which the institution was faced in its initial stages immersed in a glow of popular approval.

To see Lieut. Slingsby among his boys either at Carla Beck on the occasion of a demonstration or at their headquarters in Skipton was to realise the secret of his success. He possessed the happy faculty of entering heartily into the lads’ ideas and amusements; he inspired confidence because he was a ‘pal’ among ‘pals’; he believed in their capacity to rise above the ordinary level of youthful pursuits and pleasures; he was ever urging them, both by precept and example, to be clean in mind and body. Commissioner Slingsby's duty did not end with either Scout practices or reviews. He knew intimately the daily lives and occupations of the lads; he was a frequent visitor and always a welcome one to their homes; and the writer could cite many cases where the material prospects of the Scouts have been substantially improved by the deceased officer's influence and kindly thought.

But Lieut. Slingsby's efforts were not confined to this part of Craven. It will be news to many of our readers that he had, since leaving College, been mainly responsible for the maintenance of a Boys’ Club in the East End of London. Here, as at home, he devoted his talents to developing the nobler side of a boy's nature, instilling lofty ideals into their minds, and encouraging them to become manly men and patriotic citizens of a Great Empire.

Lieut. Slingsby himself was a manly Christian soldier. The influences of his home life ever clung to him in his all too brief career. He possessed a broad outlook on life, but withal had a stern sense of duty. It was this sense that impelled him to join the Territorial Force and volunteer for active duty, and no greater tribute to the success of his influence among the Scouts could be cited than that involved in the fact that all the local Scouts of military age threw in their lot with the West Riding Regiment, and had been associated with him in the signalling section during the operations at the Front.

The family have been inundated with messages of sympathy from those in the humblest social scale as well as those in the highest. Apart from the inevitable wrench and its pain, Mr. and Mrs. Slingsby are proud of a son who has willingly sacrificed his earthly career for an Empire to which he was devotedly attached; and the public of the Craven district are also proud to know that one of her sons has shown, equally with others in the immediate locality, a spirit of loyalty to King and Country that cannot fail to bear good fruit.—J. T. C.

SKIPTON URBAN COUNCIL’S SYMPATHY

At the monthly meeting of the Skipton Urban District Council on Tuesday reference was made to the loss that the 6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment had sustained by the deaths of Lieut. A. E. K. Slingsby and Lieutenant Hedley Knowles.

Mr. J. L. Kidd, in moving a vote of condolence, said the fathers of both these young officers were very prominently identified with public life in Skipton, and he felt sure their many friends would sympathise very keenly with them in the loss each had sustained.

Captain Charlesworth, in seconding, said it seemed but as yesterday that he was at Doncaster taking leave of the 6th Battalion before they departed with the new Expeditionary Force to France. He spent a week living with the Battalion and brought almost hourly into contact with the officers and with those to whose loss reference had been made. He felt that in a matter of this sort their sense of loss and sympathy should go out to the relatives (hear, hear), but he could not help feeling and giving expression to another thought besides that of sorrow in connection with the cutting off of two young men almost at the entrance to their manhood. When they thought of the way in which human life often came to an end – how frequently it was the fate of a man to groan his life out on a sick bed, or how often it happened that life was taken away under circumstances not exactly creditable either to the one who went or those connected with the death – he could not help thinking that in a time of national emergency we should strike another note as well as sorrow in the expression of our feelings. “How can man die better…” asked the poet in singing of an ancient nation, and there was a world of truth in the words with which a daily paper headed its roll of honour “Who dies whilst England lives?” He ventured to think he should be expressing what was in the minds of his colleagues if he struck this other note suggested by his intercourse with those young officers before they went to fight the nation's battles in France and Flanders. They went out full of hope and courage, knowing perfectly well that in the ordinary course of battle there would be some who would not return. They went as we liked Englishmen to go, and he ventured to think that – although our sympathy must go out to the relatives left behind – we saw in a death like theirs something truly glorious. It sent a message – which was not unneeded in the nation – to the slackers who stayed behind, and gave us a feeling of glorious confidence in an issue fought by such men and in the struggle to which the Empire was committed.

Cr. J. Platt (Chairman) added a few words of condolence and the resolution was carried, the members rising in their places.

23 July 1915

SOLDIER’S TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT SLINGSBY

A private of the 6th West Ridings, formerly identified with the Skipton Bulldog Troop of Scouts, writing to his parents under date July 19th says:– “We have another nine or ten days to do here yet, and I shan't be sorry when we leave.

“I expect you will know all about Mr. Slingsby now. We have lost a good officer. Still it can't be helped. He always said to us he would be shot.

“We had a taste of the gas the other day; it's not pleasant stuff I can tell you.”

In another communication the same soldier says:– “We are up to the neck in puddle. The Germans have been throwing shells about all the time, and they never think of stopping. They sent us a few gas shells over yesterday, and they made my eyes smart a bit, but it was not much. We have got helmets to put on when they start gassing. Eight of us went to the funeral of Lieut. Slingsby.”

30 July 1915

THE LATE LIEUT. SLINGSBY – TOUCHING REFERENCE AT THE SKIPTON PETTY SESSIONS

Prior to the commencement of the ordinary business at the Skipton Petty Sessions on Saturday, Sir J.C. Horsfall, presiding, made a touching reference to the death of A.E.K. Slingsby in moving that a vote of sympathy be sent to the bereaved family. He said it was his painful duly to draw the attention of his fellow Magistrates to the great loss which had been sustained by one of their colleagues, Mr. John Arthur Slingsby. They all knew how faithful that gentleman had been in recognising his duty, and of the fine example he himself had set to their friends and neighbours in the Craven district by encouraging his men to serve their King and Country. Lieut. Slingsby, whose death they were mourning, was a man beloved by all who know him, and before he went out to the Front he was engaged very largely with the Scouts. He was so beloved by his men that when he went out, many followed his example. The speaker knew that since the deceased officer had been at the Front, he had been very popular with all whom he came in contact. Letters received from his (the speaker's) own son spoke in the highest terms of Lieut. Slingsby, and in his work as a signaller it was impossible to replace him. It appeared that no other man could operate in that particular work. The speaker had also seen letters from several other officers, and they spoke very highly of Lieut. Slingsby. Though it was a terrible crisis for the young officer’s father and mother they had the satisfaction of knowing that he died a noble death, not only whilst in service of his King and Country, but whilst making his way to help and assist a wounded comrade. When passing part of the trench he was cut down by a sniper's bullet. They could only convey their deepest sympathy to the family in the great loss they had sustained and also to the many fathers and mothers in Craven who had lost sons. Some killed and others wounded. In conclusion, Sir John moved that Mr. Wood, the clerk, forward a letter of sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Slingsby.

The proposition was seconded by Mr. J. W. Morkill, who said he could associate himself with every word that had fallen from the Chairman. He had known Lieut. Slingsby for some years, and he perhaps knew him better because he and his (the speaker's) boy, who had also fallen, were at school together. While Lieut. Slingsby lived he did his best for his generation, and everything that had already been said about him was absolutely true. Such matters as those of which they were speaking had two aspects, the first being the family and domestic aspect, and the other the national aspect. The first had caused in this country sorrow and misery almost untold; the other they must regard as merely incidental to the great end, which they were hoping to attain. Their hope was that the lives that were being sacrificed would bring about the end they all desired. In conclusion, he expressed his deepest sympathy to the parents of those men from the Craven district who had fallen in doing their duty.

The resolution was carried by the members of the Bench, silently rising in their places.

30 July 1915

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT – PRIVATE’S SPIRITED LETTER: An Appreciation of Lieut. Slingsby

Writing from the trenches in Belgium, under date July 20th, a private in the 6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment says: “I am in the best of health and spirits, and I hope you are the same. You will have heard by now about Mr. Slingsby. He was shot through the head while laying a wire in a dangerous part of the trenches, in broad daylight! It was the biggest shock I have had yet – for a time it took all the breath out of us for you know what a decent chap he was, and you also know how he befriended his old scouts. He was our best friend, and the man we admired and loved better than any man we ever came across. He would never let us take any risk, and there was not a braver man in the fighting line - others have been recommended for doing less than he!

“Our division line lost rather heavily this last fortnight, and especially A Company (Skipton Company) in our battalion. S. Bishop is one of the killed: he was one of the jolliest fellows in the battalion. Our G.O.C. Major General Baldock has also been wounded. We feel the loss of these fellows keenly, but it adds to the score we have to pay off with those devils.

“They say that a cablegram arrived here this morning for Mr. Slingsby to tell him that the “Bulldogs” had won the shield. I don't know whether it is true, but I hope it is. I hope the Gala was a success… I think it rather rotten about the Welsh miners, it shows what weight Parliament carries: they do all the talking but never act.

“The fellows round here are sick of reading in the few newspapers they get ‘so and so’ is bringing in a Bill to do this and that and shorten the war, and then in big lines head ‘Lord Haldane attacks Mr.Lloyd George’ on such and such a question. The whole game in Parliament is shifting the blame off one person’s shoulders on to another’s, and blinding people to what they are going to do.

“The whole batch want kicking out, and some sound military men putting in their places. Kitchener should send for a division that has been out here for a good few months, and drive the Welsh miners and all such like back to their work in the same way they drive the Germans when they get the chance. It is not often I grunt about anything in my letters, but it is a grunt that every fellow would like to express that is out here to-day, be he a trade unionist, unionist, or whatever party he belongs in civil life, if he is a soldier in spirit as well as being one through patriotism.

“We are at war now, and although we have been at it for nearly twelve months those sentimental idiots in Parliament don't realise it yet. I would like someone to run amok with a fixed bayonet in the House of Commons, or rather let the Germans gas them: they won't even let us pay the Hun back in his own coin with gas, and the wind is in our favour nine times to their one.”

30 July 1915

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE SKIPTON PARISH CHURCH

An impressive service to the memory of the late Lieut. Slingsby took place on Sunday afternoon at the Skipton Parish Church, and was conducted by the Venerable Archdeacon Cook, who, in addition to referring to the deceased officer, made his remarks more general by applying them to other gallant soldiers from the Craven district who had fallen in action. The idea of the service originated from the Skipton Bulldog Troop of Scouts, of which Lieut. Slingsby was for some time Scoutmaster, and through the initiative of Scoutmaster Boyden, the Secretary of the Association, the various troops were communicated with. The Scouts present at the service numbered about 200, and comprised Skipton Bulldogs, Carleton, Skipton Grammar School, Skipton Parish Church, 1st and 2nd Silsden, and the Kildwick troop was represented by Assistant Scoutmaster and Mr. Thomas Appleby. The Barnoldswick troop, although not affiliated with the local Association, was also present.

The Scouts assembled at the clubroom of the Skipton Bulldogs, where they were marshalled by Scoutmaster Boyden, and afterwards marched by way of Coach Street and Water Street to the Parish Church. In addition to the Scouts there was a large number of persons present. The Scouts were attired in full uniform, and as a mark of respect they wore black bands round their hats, whilst the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster wore similar black bands round their arms.

The Archdeacon read from the second book of Kings, 2nd chapter, 9th verse. “Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” In the course of a short address, the Archdeacon spoke of the high character which Lieut. Slingsby possessed, and referred to the great interest he took in the Scouts and boy’s clubs. What they ought to do to-day was to follow the noble example which he set.

The hymns sung during the service were ‘Fight the good fight’, ‘Onward Christian soldiers’, ‘O God our help in ages past’, and ‘Holy Father in Thy Mercy’ and the 30th Psalm was read. At the close of the service the Dead March in Saul was played by Mr. J. Turner Smith, the organist, and one verse of the National Anthem was sung.

20 August 1915

THE LATE LIEUT. SLINGSBY

The Clerk announced the receipt of a letter from Mr. J. A. S1ingsby, stating that he was grateful to the Guardians, the Officers, and the Clerk, for the vote of sympathy with himself and family on the death of the late Lieut. Anthony Slingsby. He was a true British soldier and died a noble death.

23 June 1916

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Second Lieut. J. N. W. A. Procter, who is also mentioned in despatches for gallant conduct, is the second son of Mr. W. A. Procter, of Rylstone. He joined in November, 1914, trained with the 1st 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, and went out to the Front August 2nd, 1915, to take up the duties of signalling officer in succession to Lieut. Anthony Slingsby.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

LIEUTENANT ANTHONY E. K. SLINGSBY

6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, son of Mr. J. A. Slingsby, J.P., and Mrs. Slingsby, Carla Beck, Carlton, killed in action July 14th, 1915, aged 26 years. District Scout Commissioner for this district before the War and later attached to the Headquarters Staff.