Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Pair: Lance-Sergeant W. Sloan, 16th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots (2nd Edinburgh), killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916
British War and Victory Medals (18913 Cpl. W. Sloan. R. Scots.) good very fine

Pair: Second Lieutenant J. Sloan, 7/8th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action on the Western Front, 23 July 1918
British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. Sloan) good very fine (4) £300-£400

William Sloan was the eldest son of John Sloan, a fish merchant, of 7 Craigcrook Terrace, Blackhall, Edinburgh. He served during the Great War with the 16th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots (2nd Edinburgh) on the Western Front. Having advanced Lance-Sergeant, Sloan was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion served as part of the 101st Brigade, 34th Division, and ‘Left Bécourt Wood for assembly positions 5 am (1/7). Followed 15th Royal Scots into attack at La Boisselle 7.35 am - heavy machine gun and shell fire before reaching British front line. Report in War diary records No Man’s Land crossed with few casualties - battalions on left (10th Lincolnshires and 11th Suffolk) suffering heavily with very few reaching enemy lines - some of the 16th said to have reached Contalmaison. Messages received - Peake Wood reached 8.45 am, German support line 5.40pm. Direction somewhat lost owing to exposed flank - enemy counter attacked in neighbourhood of Peake Wood.’ (British Battalions on the Somme, by R. Westlake, refers)

Lance-Sergeant Sloan is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

John Sloan was the younger brother of the above, and was born in Edinburgh in November 1896. He initially served during the Great War as a Private with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the French theatre of war from 3 June 1916. Sloan was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers (T.F.) in January 1918. He was attached for service with the 7/8th Battalion when he was killed in action on the Western Front, 23 July 1918.

Second Lieutenant Sloan is buried in the Buzancy Military Cemetery, Aisne, France.