James Anderson Slater

Slater was born in Worthing, West Sussex on 29 November 1896. He was studying at a seminary in August 1914 when the First World War broke out, with Slater quickly enlisting in the British Army's Royal Sussex Regiment as a private.^[2] He was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 29 September,^[3] briefly serving with the Royal Irish Rifles (where his father served with the rank of Major) before re-joining the Sussexes.^[2] In 1915 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and served in France with No. 18 Squadron RFC as an observer on the squadron's Vickers FB.5s from November 1915 to March 1916.^[2][4] He then trained as a pilot, and on 30 June 1916 was appointed a flying officer.^[5]

Slater was posted to No. 1 Squadron RFC in August 1916, to fly the Nieuport 17 single-seat fighter, and gained his first two aerial victories in February and March 1917.^[4] He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 April 1917.^[6] In May he returned to England to serve as an instructor until 27 July 1917, when he was appointed a flight commander with the acting-rank of captain^[7] in the newly formed No. 64 Squadron RFC. The squadron was based at Sedgeford, Norfolk, where Slater was reported to have "beat up Hunstanton at 8 a.m. on Sunday mornings, buzzing his girlfriend's house at chimney pot height", and to have been in the habit of flying his aircraft through the aerodrome's hangars.^[8]

Slater's squadron moved to France in October 1917, where on 30 November he shot down the squadron's first enemy aircraft, flying an Airco DH.5 fighter. On 4 February 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross,^[9] for several successful ground attack missions. His citation read:

Temporary Second Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) James Anderson Slater, General List and RFC.

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When returning from a patrol he attacked enemy infantry, silenced a field gun and fired on transport. On another occasion he silenced a battery in very difficult weather conditions, fired on ammunition wagons and enemy infantry, and brought back his patrol safely. He also led a patrol of twelve machines in very bad weather to attack a wood held by the enemy. His patrol dropped over thirty bombs, fired 3,000 rounds and drove the enemy from the wood with heavy casualties. In the course of this flight six enemy scouts were engaged and driven off. Later, he led a similar patrol with great success. He showed splendid courage and determination."^[10]

The squadron was then re-equipped with the S.E.5a fighter, in which Slater achieved the majority of his victories, being credited with 20 enemy aircraft shot down between 8 March and 31 May 1918.

Slater received a bar to his Military Cross, gazetted on 21 June 1918. His citation read:

Temporary Captain James Anderson Slater, MC, General List and RFC.

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion during the recent, operations he attacked a large formation of hostile scouts, one of which he drove down in flames. Later, during the same flight, he took part in a general engagement, in which he drove down another enemy machine completely out of control. Two days later he attacked two enemy scouts, causing one of them to crash to earth. In eighteen days he has engaged in twenty-five combats at close quarters, shooting down eight hostile machines. His great gallantry and fine offensive spirit have inspired all ranks to a very high degree."^[11]

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 28 June 1918 "in recognition of acts of gallantry and distinguished service".^[12] His citation read:

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) James Anderson Slater, MC.

"This officer has led numerous offensive patrols with the utmost skill and determination, and it is entirely due to his fine leadership that many enemy aircraft have been destroyed with the minimum of casualties to his formation."^[13]

Slater returned to the Home Establishment in England in July 1918, to serve as an instructor until the end of the war. His final tally consisted of eleven enemy aircraft destroyed (one shared), and nine driven down "out of control" (three shared).

On 1 August 1919 Slater was granted a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force with the rank of flight lieutenant.^[15][16] He served as an instructor at No. 5 Flying Training School (Inland Area) at RAF Shotwick until transferred to No. 4 Flying Training School (Middle East Area) at Abu Sueir, Egypt, on 8 March 1922,^[17] finally returning to Home Establishment on 18 October 1924, and being posted to the RAF Depot (Non-effective Pool).^[18]

On 1 April 1925 Slater was posted to No. 3 Squadron, based at RAF Upavon,^[19] home of the Central Flying School. On 26 November 1925 Slater and Pilot Officer W. J. R. Early were killed in a flying accident, when their dual control Sopwith Snipe trainer crashed at nearby Pewsey, soon after take-off. Both men are buried in the churchyard of St. Mary the Virgin, Upavon.^[20][21]

Notes

Bibliography

• Franks, Norman (Summer 2013). "Flight Lieutenant J.A. Slater MC and Bar, DFC". Aeroplane. Vol. 47, no. 7. p. 20. ISSN 0143-7240.
• Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.