Major Arthur Boyston SLEE MC
No. 11 District Depot, Canadian Active Service Force

Date of birth: 7th March 1886
Date of death: 31st October 1940

Died aged 54
Buried at St Peter’s Church, Duncan, British Columbia, Row D Grave 8
Arthur Boyson Slee was born in London on the 7th of March 1886 the son of Arthur Charles Slee, a timber merchant, and Mary M (nee Boyson) Slee of "Synyards" Otham near Maidstone in Kent. He was christened at St Matthias' Church, Earls Court on the 6th of May 1886.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1898 where he won the Fencing Prize in 1897. On leaving school the magazine wrote the following on him: - "Leaves us for special preparation for the navy; he has always found books an unusual bugbear, and will be remembered chiefly for his brilliant performances in the Second Football Eleven."

Having decided against the Navy he went on to Clifton College where he was in School House from January 1900 to December 1904. In 1905 he moved to Ceylon as a tea planter and then went into the rubber business in Malaya. He was manager of the Carnavon Rubber Estate, Chairman of the Katozany Rubber Company, Chairman of the Bradbune Rubber Company (Brokers) and a Director of the Vimy Rubber Company. From October 1909 to December 1912 he served as a Private in the Malay States Volunteer Rifles but was discharged when his section was disbanded due to its distance from Headquarters.

On the outbreak of war he enlisted as Driver 771030 in the 50th (Northumbrian) Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Artillery but was selected for officer training and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on the 27th of February 1915. In April 1915 he completed an Anti-Aircraft course at Shoeburyness and embarked for France on the 23rd of April with the 40th Anti-Aircraft Section, 16th Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. On the 12th of September 1915 he was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant and was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatches of the 30th of April 1916. On the 10th of July 1916 he was promoted to Temporary Captain and given command of 25th Anti-Aircraft Section in France. He relinquished his temporary rank on the 26th of November 1916 and his battery was re-designated as L Battery. During 1917 he attended a gas course in France and on the 4th of February 1917 he was reappointed as Temporary Captain, while second in command of his battery.

On the 1st of September 1917 he was posted as Officer Commanding O Anti Aircraft Battery and was promoted to Acting Major on the 2nd of September. On the 31st of October 1918 he was attached to the Headquarters of Anti-Aircraft Command in the Third Army. He embarked for England for release on the 26th of January 1919 and was released from the army on the 27th.

He was awarded the Military Cross in the King's New Years Honours List of the 1st of January 1919 for his service with O Battery.

He became engaged to Muriel Faulkner-Williamson in December 1915 but it appears they never married.

He returned to Malaya in June 1919 and returned to his job as manager of the Carnavon Rubber Estate, Kuala Sengalor and spoke both Tamil and Malay. He was married to Monica Claire (nee Green) at St John's Roman Catholic Church, Bukit, Nanas, Kuala Lumpur in Malaya on the 2nd of March 1922, with Mr. Bligh Orr acting as best man. They had a son, Richard Arthur Boyson.

On the 26th of April 1930 he emigrated to Canada arriving on board the Empress of Russia landing at Vancouver. He and his wife lived at Kelston House, Herd Road, North Cowichan in British Columbia. He was an active member of the Cowichan Fish and Game Association and of the Cowichan Cricket and Sports Club.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War he was mobilised for war service as Battery Commander of the 62nd Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery on the 14th of September 1939 with his appointment to be effective from the 1st of September 1939. He had undergone a medical examination on the 9th of September when it was recorded that he was five feet six inches tall and that he weighed 141lbs. It was also recorded that he had a medium complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. The examining officer wrote: - "General physical examination shows this officer's cardio-vascular, respiratory and digestive system to be normal. Heart rate, size and sounds are normal."

He was granted leave from the 13th to the 25th of May 1940. On the 31st of August 1940 he was transferred to No. 11 District Depot, Canadian Active Service Force in eastern Canada for duty at No. III P.A.M Training Centre at Saanich as an instructor and was promoted to Major on the 1st of September 1940.

He suffered a fatal heart attack at 6.35pm on the 31st of October 1940.

His son, Flying Officer Richard Arthur Boyson Slee 19 Squadron Royal Air Force, was killed in action on the 17th of September 1944.
Went on to Clifton College

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