Pair: Private A. Slattie, 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys), who led a colourful life filled with controversy and hardship - twice sentenced to imprisonment and hard labour during his military career, he then went on to be involved in a high profile Edinburgh murder trial, before succumbing to a near fatal train accident at Edinburgh Waverley when ‘he was knocked down, with a unknown number of wheels passing over his right leg at the ankle’

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4688 Pte A. Slattie. 2nd Dragoons); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4688 Pte A. Slattie. 2nd Drgns:) suspension slack on both, contact marks, fine (2) £280-£320

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Alexander Slattie was born on the Isle of Wight, and attested for the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) at Edinburgh in August 1899. He served with the regiment in South Africa and transferred to the Reserve in December 1906, being discharged in December 1911, after 9 years and 351 days service. It would appear that Slattie led a very colourful life - during his military service he was twice sentenced to imprisonment and hard labour, and was subsequently involved in a murder trial, and a near fatal accident.

On 17 December 1905 at the Edinburgh High Court of Justice a young man named George Gordon was tried for the murder of Elizabeth Tavendale in the house occupied by him at No. 3 North Richmond Street. He had cut her throat and beaten her head with a hammer. The jury after 25 minutes absence returned a unanimous verdict of culpable homicide, and the Lord Justice Clerk, without comment, sentenced the prisoner to twelve years penal servitude. Slattie, who had also been romantically involved with Elizabeth Tavendale, gave evidence during the subsequent trial. The case, and the trial, received a lot of coverage in the Scottish press with Slattie being referred to as ‘The Soldier in the Box’ and ‘A Soldier Lover’. Court sketches of the individuals concerned also appeared in the press, with the case being variously referred to as “The Richmond Street Murder”, “The Richmond Street Tragedy” and “Low Life Tragedy, Sordid Revelations.”

The following extracts also appeared at the time:

‘Alex Slattie, private “B” Squadron, Royal Scots Greys, Piershill Barracks, Edinburgh said that the deceased’s sister was married to a brother of his. In July 1904 when he was on furlough, and staying with his brother, he came intimate with the deceased, and was in the habit of keeping company with her at that time. Till her death he saw her frequently at night. On the Thursday evening he met her in the High Street, and accused spoke to him. Gordon was very angry and said something about the witness having anything more to do with the girl. Gordon used bad language, and the witness thought the deceased said to Gordon, “What have you got to do with it?” The witness was in the deceased’s company on the Saturday night till four o’clock on Sunday morning....’

‘A Soldier Lover - Alexander Slattie (26) a private in the Royal Scots Greys, who wore two medals and clasps said he became acquainted with Tavendale a year ago when he was in Edinburgh on furlough after coming home from South Africa. When his regiment was at Norwich he corresponded with her. He only became acquainted with Gordon when his regiment came to Edinburgh in November last....’

Slattie married two years later, and continued to reside in Edinburgh whereupon being discharged from the army he was employed on the railways:

‘Just before 1pm on 11th July 1914, goods porter Alexander Slattie was on duty at the North British Railway’s Edinburgh Waverley Goods Station. He was in the delivery office when local confectioner R. Diekman called to pick up a suitcase. Slattie offered to carry the case. Slattie told Diekman he would take him by a short cut - across the lines between the goods station and the passenger station. Diekman protested against going that way as he considered it dangerous. Eventually Slattie persuaded Diekman to go with him, but whilst crossing the lines Diekman suddenly realised that an approaching train was almost upon them. He shouted a warning and rushing forward was very fortunate to get clear of the train. Slattie was less fortunate - he was knocked down, with a unknown number of wheels passing over his right leg at the ankle. Inspector Campbell was stern in his admonition of Slattie: he had no right to leave the goods station when he did so, and he added to the offence by inducing a member of the public to trespass on the Company’s lines.’ (Railway Work, Life & Death by M. Esbester refers)

Slattie died in Edinburgh in September 1952.

Sold with photographic images of recipient, and copied research.