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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

George Alexander Slack

In memory of:

Lieutenant George Alexander Slack

October 2, 1943
Foggia, Italy

Military Service

Age:

27

Force:

Army

Unit:

The Royal Canadian Regiment

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star; The Italy Star;The 1939-1945 War Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp.

Additional Information

Born:

January 4, 1916
Farnham, Quebec

Son of Dr. Malcolm Ross and Mrs. Blanche Slack. Husband of Dorothy Emma Huldah Graham, who were married on August 23, 1940 in the Chapel of the Church of St. James the Apostle in Montreal, Quebec. Brother of Mrs. Thelma (Ernest W.) Bowen, uncle of David of Toronto, Ontario and Christopher of Alexandria, Ontario. Enroled 8 May 1942 in Montreal, Quebec. Served overseas from 3 March 1943. Served in Canada, Britain and Central Mediterranean Area.

Mrs. Slack who had overseas service with the Canadian Red Cross provided this short synopisis for the Canadian Letters and Images Project:
While my husband, George Alexander Slack was overseas with the Royal Canadian Regiment in Italy, I was a Canadian Industries Ltd. secretary and volunteer at the Canadian Red Cross Blood Bank in Montreal. On Thursday evening, October 7, 1943, soon after I returned alone to my apartment from company bowling, the doorbell rang and it was a telegraph boy with the message from General Spry, that George had been killed in action at Foggia on October 2nd. When I arrived in Italy I was posted to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital as a Canadian Red Cross Corps welfare officer and learned a few hours later that the hospital had closed. Luckily, I met Colonel Cy Simmons, in charge of Troop Transport. When I told Cy that my husband was buried in Bari, he asked me to sit down and left me for half an hour. When he returned, he said: Dorothy, early in the morning a jeep will call for you, take you to Naples where you will stay overnight at the YWCA; next morning another vehicle will pick you up, take you to Bari where you will stay at the Australian Officers' Club, and a driver will take you to the grave site. For me, it was a wonderful happening, to be able to pay my last respects to George Slack who had given me the very happiest months of my life.

Commemorated on Page 214 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BARI WAR CEMETERY
Italy

Grave Reference:

III. B. 39.

Location:

The BARI WAR CEMETERY lies south of Bari, in the rural locality of Carbonara in the Commune and Province of Bari. It is reached from the town by proceeding south along the Taranto road (Route No.100) for about 8.5 kilometres. The turning to the right, leading to Carbonara di Bari, is taken and the Cemetery lies on the right about 1.5 kilometres further on. From the North, take the exit to Bari North and continue on the Tangenziale in the direction of Brindisi. Take Exit No.12, Bari Carbonara, and continue into town. Proceed around the square in the direction of Triggiano. Follow this road across the traffic lights and the BARI WAR CEMETERY can be found on the left hand side. From the South, follow the Tangenziale (main road) and exit at Carbonara Bari, then proceed as above.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Grave Marker– Bari Cemetary July 2017 (Picture taken by Lorri Trenholm McLeod)

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Bari Cemetary July 2017 (Picture taken by Lorri Trenholm McLeod)
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Montreal Star. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Montreal Star. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of George Slack and wife– George A. Slack and wife, Dorothy

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    Photo of George Slack and wife
    Photo of George Slack and wife – George A. Slack and wife, Dorothy
  • Photo of George A Slack

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    Photo of George A Slack
    Photo of George A Slack
  • Grave Marker– Bari, Italy

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    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Bari, Italy
  • Photo 2 of George A Slack– G.A. Slack in Italy

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    Photo 2 of George A Slack
    Photo 2 of George A Slack – G.A. Slack in Italy
  • Photo 3 of George A Slack– G.A. Slack,in Italy

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    Photo 3 of George A Slack
    Photo 3 of George A Slack – G.A. Slack,in Italy
  • Photo 4 of George Slack– Picture from West Hill High School Annual 1944 (Montreal). Photo supplied by McGill University.

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    Photo 4 of George Slack
    Photo 4 of George Slack – Picture from West Hill High School Annual 1944 (Montreal). Photo supplied by McGill University.
  • Entrance

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    Entrance
    Entrance
  • Entrance

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    Entrance
    Entrance
  • Hall

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    Hall
    Hall
  • Plaque

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    Plaque
    Plaque
  • Stone of Remembrance

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    Stone of Remembrance
    Stone of Remembrance
  • Cross of Sacrifice

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    Cross of Sacrifice
    Cross of Sacrifice
  • Cemetery

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    Cemetery
    Cemetery
  • Grave Marker

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    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Montreal Gazette. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Montreal Gazette. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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