Joseph Slack
Died 31 March 1921
Joseph Slack (10‑39‑2)
Joseph enlisted aged 44 in October in 1914 and was a Corporal in the 15th Battalion, awarded the Military Medal. His service record includes the following:
- 20.5.1915 Wounded in action in Gallipoli
- 14.8.1915 GSW left shoulder
- 16.8.1915 Wounded in action again, GSW right arm, admitted to hospital
- 19.9.1915 Admitted to hospital
- 24.10.1915 Admitted to hospital with dysentery
- 25.10.1915 Quinine poisoning following treatment for malaria, general debility
- 30.10.1915 Dysentery, admitted hospital
- 11.1.1916 Dysentery
- 1.2.1916 GSW serious, admitted hospital
- 2.3.1916 GSW thorax, invalided to Australia
His file states his pension was reduced in 1918 from £2 to £1 per fortnight.
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Gruesome details
On the 1st March 1919 Joseph was robbed of £17 by 3 men who went to court for their crimes. Then on 23rd March 1919, a little over 3 weeks later, Joseph died by suicide after drinking poison.
SUPPOSED POISONING (1919, March 24). Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), p. 6 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved March 7, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article179827445
As he is considered to have died ‘on service’ (i.e. he died before 31 March 1921) he will be awarded an official war grave.
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