Lieutenant W. L. Slaughter Killed Second Lieutenant W. Slaughter, Hunts Cyclists, attached 9th Essex, only son of Supt. and Mrs. Slaughter, Sessions House, Peterborough, was killed in action on September 8th. 

Second Lieutenant Woolley, in a letter received by the bereaved parents on Thursday morning says: "He was killed by the bursting of a shell on Thursday. I have known him for some time, and we were sergeants together, and his loss will be greatly felt by the officers of his late battalion. His death was instantaneous, and he was buried close to where he fell." Lt. Slaughter, who was 23 years of age, was educated at Deacons School, and was for some years with Mr. W. H. Sturton, and afterwards with Mr. A. E. Craig, at Sages. 

He was a well known favorite with his many friends. He joined up in January 1916, and obtained his commission in June 1917. Much sympathy has been extended to Superintendent and Mrs. Slaughter, and to his fiancé, Miss Andrews, daughter of Sergeant Andrews, of the Borough Police Force in the great loss they have sustained.

The Late Lieutenant W. L. Slaughter = Superintendent and Mrs. Slaughter received a very sympathetic letter from 2nd Lt H. W. Woolley in reference to the death in action of their only son Second Lieutenant W. L. Slaughter, he states: "We had taken our objective and were in a trench, and although the Germans were shelling us heavily your son would go over to another trench a few yards away, where some of his men were, to take them some cigarettes. On his way back a shell exploded close to him, killing him instantly. I know he was loved by the men of his platoon, who all speak very highly of him. He has been buried close to where he fell, and a cross is erected over his grave." Superintendent and Mrs. Slaughter have received many expressions of sympathy and wish to acknowledge their indebtedness to their many friends in the heavy bereavement they have sustained. A memorial service will be held at Longthorpe Church on Sunday morning, September 29th.

SLAUGHTER, WILLIAM LEONARD, Sessions House, Thorpe Road, Second Lieutenant, 1st Huntingdonshire Cyclists Battalion. Killed in action 5.9.18 at Nurlu.

OCTOBER 5TH 1918 Memorial Service For Lieutenant Slaughter = A memorial service to Second Lieutenant, W. L. Slaughter, Essex Regiment, only son of Superintendent and Mrs. Slaughter of the Sessions House, Peterborough, was held at Longthorpe Church on Sunday. In the presence of a large congregation including many friends from Peterborough, special hymns were sung, and the Vicar, the Rev E. S. O'Reilly in the course of his sermon, alluded to the splendid British qualities of the deceased officer. As assistant Scoutmaster to the Longthorpe Troop, Lt Slaughter always had at heart the welfare of the young lads under him, he was always ready to do a good turn and this splendid trait in his character was with him to the last, for he nobly met his death taking comforts to his men.

Sept 28^th 1918               The Late Lieutenant W . L. Slaughter

Superintendent and Mrs. Slaughter received a very sympathetic letter from 2nd Lt. H. W. Woolley in reference to the death in action of their only son second Lieutenant W .L. Slaughter, he States: "We had taken our objective and were in a trench. and although the Germans were shelling us heavily your son would go over to another trench a few yards away, where some of his men were, to take them some cigarettes. On his way back a shell exploded close to him, killing him instantly. I know he was loved by the men of his platoon, who all speak very highly of him. He has been buried close to where he fell, and a cross is erected over his grave. Superintendent and Mrs. Slaughter have received many expressions of sympathy and wish to acknowledge their indebtedness to their many friends in the heavy bereavement they have sustained. A memorial service will be held at Longthorpe Church on Sunday morning, September 29^th.

From a local paper dated 31/3/1917 = Second lieutenant E A Sizer, cyclist Battalion, who relinquished his commission on account of ill health, has been granted the honorary rank of Second Lieutenant.

Lieutenant W. L. Slaughter Killed  September 14^th 1918 - Second Lieutenant W. Slaughter, Hunts Cyclists, attached 9th Essex, only son of Supt. and Mrs. Slaughter, Sessions House, Peterborough, was killed in action on September 5th. Second Lieutenant Woolley, in a letter received by the bereaved parents on Thursday morning says. "He was killed by the bursting of a shell on Thursday. I have known him for some tune, and we were sergeants together, and his loss will be greatly felt by the officers of his late battalion. His death was instantaneous, and he was buried close to where he fell." Lt. Slaughter, who was 23 years of age, was educated at Deacons School, and was for some years with Mr. W. H. Sturton, and afterwards with Mr. A. E. Craig, at Sages. He was a well known favorite with his many friends. He joined up in January 1916, and obtained his commission in June 1917. Much sympathy has been extended to Superintendent and Mrs. Slaughter, and to his fiancé, Miss Andrews, daughter of Sergeant Andrews, of the Borough Police Force in the great loss they have sustained.  

If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com

09/04/2012