Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Able Seaman T. Slee, Royal Navy, who died after he accidentally shot himself in the abdomen when cleaning a revolver on board H.M.S. Fury at Scapa Flow on 28 November 1914

1914-15 Star (185983 T. Slee. A.B. R.N.); Victory Medal 1914-1919 (185983 T. Slee. A.B. R.N.); Memorial Plaque (Thomas Richard Slee) extremely fine (3) £80-£100

Thomas Slee was born in King's Nympton, North Devon, on 10 June 1880, the son of William and Priscilla Slee, later of Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham. The second forename, Richard, which appears on the memorial plaque does not appear in his Service Record. He joined the Navy as a Boy 2 Class, H.M.S. Impregnable, on 11 October 1895, having been a labourer before this. He advanced to Boy 1 Cass, on 11 June 1896, and to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Renown on 10 June 1898, to Able Seama, on 16 October 1900, and remained in this rate for the remainder of his naval career. He became a Seaman Gunner on 23 July 1907 and a Gun Layer 3rd Class on 9 December 1907. He joined H.M.S. Fury, a tender to the Depot Ship H.M.S. Blake on 1 December 1912, and at some stage thereafter perhaps undertook the duties of Gunner's Yeoman or Armourer's Mate, amongst whose duties would have been the cleanliness of small arms, for it was whilst cleaning a revolver at 08.35 on 27 November 1914, that he accidentally shot himself in the abdomen whilst H.M.S. Fury was in Scapa Flow. At 09.30 he was transferred to the Hospital Ship H.M.S. Soudan and died the following morning at 10.50 on 28 November 1914. He was buried in Osmondwall Cemetery, Isle of Hoy, Orkney Islands. He left a widow, Fannie A Slee of 36 Victory Street, Keyham, Devonport, to whom his medals and Memorial Plaque were eventually sent. His parents later lived at Charlton Kings near Cheltenham, where his younger brother was also born in about 1900. His name appears on the War Memorial outside St Mary's Church, Charlton Kings near Cheltenham. He is additionally entitled to the British War Medal.

Sold with copied research and two photographs of the War Memorial at St. Mary’s Church, Charlton King’s, near Cheltenham.