Remembrance soldier
Lieutenant John Cobley Slaney
Royal Field Artillery
Killed in action February 17, 1916
Aged 33
John Cobley Slaney was the son of Mary Jane Slaney who lived at Sunnycroft on Holyhead Road, Wellington.
On the day John was killed the gun batteries were firing on the enemy front line in support of the infantry advance.
The war diary records "an intense barrage was formed and ceased at 6am."
The only other comment that day was "Lt JC Slaney RFA of D Battery was killed." this was the result of a shell burst within a few yards of him at Dickelensen.
John’s photograph is provided courtesy of the Principal and Fellows of Brasenose College, Oxford.
His full biography will be available to read in one of 12 limited edition books at Wellington Library or online at Shropshire Archives from November 11 onwards.
The Shropshire Star has teamed up with the Wellington Remembers 1914-1918 project to feature each day in the run up to Remembrance Sunday one of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and whose name is recorded on the town's lych gate war memorial at All Saints Parish Church. Volunteers have spent two years researching all 184 war dead named on the memorial.
