Robert Bishop Slade

Story:
Robert Bishop Slade was born on 30th June, 1892 in Aston Upthorp, Wallingford, Berkshire. He was the son of Leonard Gillot Slade, a Farmer, and Maria Slade (nee Bishop). The family lived at Brook Hill, Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single and living at Park Gate Farm, Donhead St. Andrew, Shaftesbury. In February, 1911 he sailed for Canada. He enlisted in the 28th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Service No. 73837) on 23rd October, 1914 as a Private. He sailed to England on the SS Northland on 29th May, 1915, and then on to France by the 17th September,1915. On 30th October, 1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. on 21st January, 1917 he was transferred to Shorncliff and then on to Oxford where he joined the School of Military Aeronautics on 12th April, 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force on 23rd May, 1917, which date coincided with his discharge from the Canadian Infantry. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died at Shawbury Aerodrome, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on 23rd July 1918, following a flying accident when attacked by enemy aircraft. He was buried in the All Saints Churchyard at Aston Upthorpe, Wallingford and is remembered on Wiltshire Roll of Honour.   His brother, Brian Benjamin Slade, had enlisted on 21 Dec 1914 but was discharged shortly after on medical grounds.