Slator and Nugent family history Descendants of Daniel Nugent and Margaret Russell
Tribute to Danny Slator (1926-1944) Brian Slator's Slator Family Tree Tracing Lines of Descent (or, what are first cousins, once removed?) Peter Keating and Christina Anderson page (my mother's side of the family) What Web page would be complete without a link to soccer coverage by The Irish Times? |
 L. Cpl. Michael Joseph
(Daniel Patrick) Slator NOTE: The footnotes (below) will be out of order until
this page is finalized.
Danny Slator (#H103032) fought with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons, out of
Winnipeg. The regiment has a long and distinguished history, as recorded
on a monument (below) that was dedicated to the unit in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, in early June 2000.
The 12th Manitoba Dragoons was mobilized on May 10, 1941, under the 4th
Canadian Infantry Division. In World War II, the unit was known as
the 18th Reconnaissance (Armoured Car) Regiment, and served as the Armored
Reconnaissance Regiment for the II Canadian Corps. The motto of the unit
was "Ubique Honor et Equis," which means "everywhere honour and equality."
The above photo was generously provided to me by Herb Schuppert of Langley, B.C.,
who also served with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons during World War II.
Here is a photo of Mr. Schuppert standing alongside the monument at the
dedication ceremony:
Here is a photo in which the inscriptions can be read:
Danny enlisted under the name "Michael Joseph Slator" -- my father's
name (although my father had no middle name) because, at the time of his
enlistment, Danny was only 15 years, 11 months, and five days old. (My
father tried to join when he turned 18 but was refused because of his
heart condition). Although he used my father's name, he did not use his
birth date, February 25. Instead, he used February 23, 1924, and he
claimed to be 18 1/2 years old.2 Danny listed his occupation in
one place as "laborer," and his education as "3 years High School," with
Grade 11 the last school year of completed.2 On
another form, he listed his occupations as "painter," and "Mr. D.
Blackman," a builder, and his most recent employer, of six months. He
indicated he did not wish to return to this job after his army service,
and that his employment plans were to "remain in the
army."3
It appears Danny was transferred to Portage La Prairie on November 20,
1942. On December 22, 1942, he was granted "New Year's leave and ration
allowance 50 cents per diem from Dec. 12, 1942 to January 3, 1943."4
On December 23, 1942, he made his only appearance on the "Morning Sick Report," complaining of a sore left heel.
The treatment he received is not noted.5
On January 26, 1943, Danny was transferred to "A. 27 C.A.C. (Recce)"
(which, I believe, means reconnaissance). On January 27, 1943, Danny was
transferred to the Dundurn military camp, which is 20 miles outside of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Danny
remained at Dundurn until July 16, 1943.6
On November 5, 1942, Danny was paid $1.30 per day. His pay increased to
$1.40 per day on March 3, 1943. On May 29, 1943, he became qualified as a
driver, and on June 11, 1943, was granted $1.50 per
diem.7 On June 14, 1943, he was given a furlough
until June 29, 1943, and an $8.00 furlough allowance.8 By
February 11, 1944, his pay had risen to $1.85 per day.
On June 23, 1943, he began receiving "trades pay" as a Driver Operator.
On July 12, 1943, he ceased receiving trade pay, but it appears he began
receiving it again on July 23, 1943, after he had been transferred
overseas.9
On July 17, 1943, Danny was transferred to England, where he remained
until July 8, 1944. On July 9, 1944, he was transferred to
France.10
On August 2, 1943, Danny executed a Will, using the name of of Michael
Joseph Slator. He left to his father, John Joseph Slator "all his estate,
both real and personal, for his use absolutely."
On Spetember 10, 1943, he was granted 9 days "P.L." (which I assume
means personal leave) with "M.A."
On February 11, 1944, Danny was appointed Acting Lance Corporal
"w.e.f." (whatever that means) January 18, 1944. A May 12, 1944, entry on
his "Continuation Card" states he was appointed Lance Corporal "w.e.f."
April 18, 1944.
On January 18, 1944, Danny was appointed "A/L/Cpl," but there is an
entry dated April 18, 1944, that reads: "to be L.Cpl." It appears Danny
was sent to England on July 8, 1994. A rubber-stamped entry of that date
reads "EMBARKED UK". The next entry, from July 9, 1944, reads:
"DISEMBARKED FRANCE".11
On March 21, 1944, Danny's father, John, wired $26.75 via the Canadian
Pacific Express Company to "M.J. Slator," 18th C.A.C. Regt., 12th Manitoba
Dragoons, C Company.
As described below, Danny Slator was killed in action on August 9,
1944. He was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, France-Germany Star,
Defence Medal, War Medal, and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with
clasp.12
On August 12, 1944, Capt. Gabriel LaRoque, completed a "Unit Committee
of Adjustment Report," on the financial affairs of Danny at the time of
his death. No assets or debts were reported.13
On August 15, 1944, Jack Slator received the following telegram at
approximately 5:52 p.m.:
On September 25, 1944, Jack Slator complete a questionnaire, Form P.
64, in order to be eligible to receive Danny's estate. Danny's six
brothers and sisters are listed, with all but Chris and Helen noted to be
residing in Stony Mountain, Manitoba. (Chris is listed as residing
"overseas," and Helen is listed as residing in MacDonald, Manitoba, it
appears.) Jack added this note at the end of the questionnaire:
John Joseph Slator.14 On October 7, 1944, the Estates Branch of the Department of National
Defence in Ottawa sent wrote to Jack Slator acknowledging receipt of the
completed questionnaire. The letter also reported the existence of the
Will that Danny had executed on August 2, 1943, and that Jack was named
the sole beneficiary. The letter said that "full particulars of his
Service estate... will not be available here for several months owing to
the war situation..."15
On November 8, 1944, Capt. Eric G. Roberts, filed a "Standing Committee
of Adjustment Report" regarding Danny's financial affairs at his death,
and indicated an "identity disc" and "M.B.M. 1 Pts. I, II, and III" were
not mentioned in the "Unit Committee of Adjustment
Report."16
On March 24, 1945, Lt. Col. G.M. Lampard, Officer in charge of Estates
at the Canadian Military Headquarters in London, filed a report about
Danny's property at his death. The report indicated Danny essentially had
no property other than his personal effects, and was paying $3.00 per
month for a Crown Life insurance policy.10 He apparently took
out this policy in December 1942.17
On May 14, 1945, Col. L. M. Firth sent Estates Form P.4 entitled
"Distribution of Service Estates," showing proceeds payable to John J.
Slator of $81.68 under Danny's Will.18
On April 13, 1945, to The Secretary, Department of National Defence,
Jack Slator asked "as father and the Beneficiary of the deceased," was he
entitled to apply for the gratuity?19 On April 27,
1945, Brig. Gen. A. R. Mortimore wrote to Jack Slator to acknowledge
receipt of his application, and to advise him that under the War Service
Grants Act, 1944, the gratuity would first be paid to dependents, and if
none, to beneficiaries under the decedent's Will.20
On July 7, 1945, the Estates Branch in Ottawa wrote to Jack Slator to
notify him that no personal effects were found for
Danny.21
On October 9, 1945, Brig. Gen. A. R. Mortimore wrote to Jack Slator to
notify him that his application for War Service Gratuity was being
referred to the Director of Estates for Distribution, and that "some time
will elapse before th[e] claim can be brought to a
finality."22
It appears that on October 10, 1945, the Department of National Defence
sent to the Director of Estates the sum of $297.25, which is a "war
service gratuity".23
I saw your article in the Can. Legion Magazine, about L. Cpl. Mike
Slator. [Note: Danny Slator had enlisted under the name "Michael J.
Slator".]
Mike and I and another fellow by the name of Joe Standby were very
good friends, while we were in Brighton. We called ourselves the "Three
Musketeers." We went into action on August 9, 1944... with our armoured
cars.
As we were going down the road, Mike and his driver (Mike Moroz from
Transcona) were in the lead Scout car, and our Staghound was second.
Then another Scout car and Stag followed. We went very slowly, as there
was an 88 mm. cannon hidden in a sand pit, which we didn't know where.
One shot was fired; it went over Mike's car and landed in front of us
and bounced over our Stag. Mike's car was close to a crossroad, and as
we saw him make a right turn, we stopped, threw a smoke screen, turned
around, and headed back. We heard another shot and when we were out of
range, we got out of our cars and started walking back up the road. We
saw Mike's car about a half a mile in the ditch smoking and badly banged
up.
Later on, a Jeep with a Red Cross went and picked up the two Mikes. I
hope this will ease your mind.
Yours truly, Mr. Kochanski sent me this second letter, in response to some questions
I asked about Danny:
First of all, we knew Danny as Mike.
Mike was a very quiet person, as far as I was concerned he had no
dislikes. As far as religion, we didn't have that much time, as Padres
were hard to get?
Mike must have joined the army in Winnipeg and I in Regina. I kind of
thought Mike was a little young? If the army found out Mike was
underage, I never heard.
We were stationed in Tonbridge Wells, Surrey, before going to France.
I think I mentioned that Mike Moroz was Mike's driver and they were both
killed at the same time? As far as Joe Standby, he came home, and later
he passed on. Joe lived in Owen Sound, Ontario, and he died in November
1959. Mike Moroz was from Transcona, MB. Another Canadian army veteran, Clarence Holmberg, of Richard's Landing,
ON, wrote to say he saw my notice in the Canadian Legion Magazine. Mr.
Holmberg was not in the 12th Manitoba Dragoons, but his brother, Hartley,
was a member of "A" company of the 12th.
Mr. Holmberg sent me a copy of page 119 of a book entitled "XII
Manitoba Dragoons: A Tribute". Page 199 is from a chapter entitled "Recce
at Last!". It describes "Operation Totalize," which the First Canadian
Army planned to launch on Aug. 8, 1944, against Tilly la
Campagne-Verrieres Ridge Line, which was held by the German army. The
following is an excerpt:
This photo, from Canadian Archives, is of a Staghound (T17E1) Armoured
Car, a widely-used reconnaissance vehicle: Here's a recent photo of a Staghound, kindly sent to me by Herb
Schuppert, that was taken at Arnhem in the year 2000 during anniversary
celebrations of the airborne landing: Danny Slator was 18 years old when he
died. In May 1945, John Slator received a letter from the Canadian
Department of Defence informing him that Danny's remains were buried in
the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, in France. A "suitably
inscribed headstone" was to be added later, with a short personal
inscription of John Slator's choosing. To view the text of the letter,
click here.
According to information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Web
site, buried in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery are:
After Danny died, his sister, Helen (my aunt), received a letter from
him. Among other things, he said he had recently gone to
confession. 1 source: Nov. 3, 1942, "Attestation Paper," From M.F.M.
2. Last updated on January 5, 2004.
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