Auction Catalogue

16 July 2020

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Live Online Auction

Download Images

Lot

№ 325

.

16 July 2020

Hammer Price:
£400

Seven: Colonel W. H. Slack, Royal Army Service Corps Reserve of Officers, who was evacuated from Dunkirk in June 1940; served as Liaison Officer with the United States 4 Army Corps in North Africa, for which he was Commended and Mentioned in Despatches, and later served as Aide-de-Camp to H.M. The Queen, 1963-66

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Army Emergency Reserve Decoration, E.II.R., reverse officially dated ‘1954’, with two Additional Award Bars,dated ‘1954’ and ‘1960’; Civil Defence Long Service Medal, E.II.R, British reverse, unnamed as issued, court mounted as worn, generally good very fine or better (7) £240-£280

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 November 1943:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa.’

William Henry Slack was born in Sheffield on 7 February 1911, and was educated at the University of Sheffield. He was Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Army Service Corps Supplementary Reserve on 26 October 1932. At the outbreak of the Second War, he was serving with No. 4 Reserve Motor Transport Company and was immediately promoted Acting Captain. He served in France with the British Expeditionary Force until evacuated from Dunkirk in June 1940, and then for the next two years in the UK, having been promoted acting Major in August 1942. He further served in the Central Mediterranean, taking part in the Algiers landings and was successively Deputy Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport, R.A.S.C. Transport Company; British Liaison Officer with the United States 4 Army Corps; and Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport 86 Army Area Venice. For his services in North Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the General Commanding United States 4 Army Corps. Promoted Acting Lieutenant-Colonel on 14 August 1945, he was reduced to the substantive rank of Captain on 1 November 1947 (seniority dated 26 October 1942). Promoted Major on 7 October 1954 (seniority dating to 1 November 1947), he commanded 101 Transport Column R.A.S.C., A.E.R. between 1958 and 1961. Promoted Colonel that year, in 1962 he was appointed Deputy Inspector, Reserve Army Units, R.A.S.C. He was additionally appointed Aide-de-Camp to H.M. The Queen on 3 April 1963, serving in this position until 7 February 1966.

Sold with various items of insignia as A.D.C. to H.M. The Queen; a selection of military documents relating to the recipient’s service and appointment as Aide-de-Camp; copy of record of service up until March 1948; cased enamel Chartered Institute of Transport, Past Chairman badge, named on reverse and dated 1966-67; Commission Document appointing the recipient Second Lieutenant; a photograph album containing mainly images of the recipient’s service; four large group photographs of ‘Normandy Company’, dated 1949-50, three of these framed; newspaper cuttings; various family documents from the 19th Century; family photographs,some from the latter period; various magazines and booklets relating to the Queen’s Coronation and marriage; and other ephemera.