Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Henry Slingsby, a quarry worker, born 1852 in Groby, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Slingsby (¬nee Chapman, married on the 28th November 1881 in St. Mary de Castro Church, Leicester), born 1855 in Kilby, Leicestershire. Thomas Archibald, a schoolboy, was born on the 23rd April 1885 in Groby and baptised on the 29th August 1886 in the Parish Church, Groby, he had one sibling, Cecil Sheppard, a schoolboy, born on the 8th August 1882 in Groby and baptised on the 4th February 1883 in the Parish Church, Groby, in April 1891 the family home was at Ratby Road, Ratby, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Thomas was employed as a shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at Ratby Road, Groby, together with his father a granite quarry worker, his mother and brother, Cecil a quarry worker. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a quarry worker and was residing in the family home at Church Lane, Anstey, together with his wife Nellie Slingsby (nee Rushin, married on the 4th July1908 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), a shoe trade machinist, born 1887 in Anstey and their daughter, Edith, born 10th December 1908 in Anstey. Arthur’s wife died in March 1914, aged 28. Thomas died on the 7th September 1919 and was buried on the 11th September in Groby cemetery. Thomas’s older brother Cecil Shephard, died on the 12th January 1920 and is buried in Anstey cemetery.
Thomas enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 27th October 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 22185. He gave his age as 30 years 8 months. His marital status was given as widower and his trade or calling as quarry man. He gave his present address as 37, Ratby Road, Groby, Leicestershire.
His medical examination recorded his apparent age as 30 years 8 months, that he was 5-feet 6½ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches. The following distinctive marks were noted, tattoo marks left forearm.
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Mrs. Eliza Slingsby, 37, Ratby Road, Groby, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Leicester. 27/10/15.
Attested. 27/10/15.
Posted. To 11th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. (Pioneers). Pte. 27/10/15.
Transferred. To the Reserve. Pte. 27/10/15.
Transferred. To Corps of Royal Engineers. Pte. Authority of Army Order (G.A.G. CR No. 18745/217/X43/a. d.28/7/17 under Army Order 204/1916). 20/5/17.
Posted. To Corps of Royal Engineers, 329th, 2 Company. Sapper. 21/5/17.
Offence. Overstaying his leave to U.K. from 0.38am 15/9/18 to 6.30am 16/9/18 (Absent one day). Award. Forfeits 7 days’ pay. 17/9/18.
Transferred. To “Z” Class Army Reserve on Demobilization. 10/3/19.
Died. In the Royal Infirmary, Leicester, heart disease. 7/9/19.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 27/10/15 – 25/3/16. 150 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 26/3/16 – 11/2/19. 2 years 323 days
Home Service. 12/2/19 – 7/9/19. 208 days.
Total Service. 3 years 316 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.