By John D Ellis
James Slim was born in Jamaica c.1892. When the war started in 1914 he was employed as a fireman (or stoker) on a merchant vessel docked in France. He enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, and after two months of basic training, served in the trenches for four months where he was wounded. In 1915 he was one of 200 British legionaires to transfer to the British Army.(1)
James Slim’s service records reveal that he enlisted for short service in the Coldstream Guards (from the French Foreign Legion, and receiving the regimental number 15370) in Southampton on the 11th of February 1915 aged twenty-four years and five months old. He gave his address as 101 Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica. It was noted that he was a fireman by occupation, and un-married. He was 5 feet and 9½” tall and had a scar on the left breast. His nominated next of kin was his father, Jim Slim, also of 101 Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica.(7)
Slim commenced training with the 4th (Reserve) Battalion of the Coldstream Guards at Victoria Barracks, Windsor, and in March 1915 it was reported that “Private Slim is drilling regularly with other recruits. He is very cheerful and willing, and looks quite smart in his khaki. He speaks good English and hopes to be sent out (to France) with the next draft.”(8)
Slim elected to join the Coldstream Guards, and his presence in the regiment was the focus of considerable media interest: The Berks and Oxon Advertiser, (12th March 1915), erroneously reported that he was “the first gentleman of colour to enlist in that famous regiment”.(2) In fact, several Black soldiers had served in the band of the regiment between the 1790s and 1840s.(3)
The Leeds Mercury (5th March 1915), saw the presence of Slim in the Coldstream Guards as “a striking illustration of the way the new control of the British Army is sweeping away old prejudices..”(4) The Hamilton Daily Times concurred, suggesting that the presence of Indians and Africans fighting in the trenches had “obliterated the colour line…”(5)
James Slim’s service in the Coldstream Guards was to be brief. There is nothing in his records to suggest he was medically unfit.
The records contain a number of entries which have been scored out, and there is a reference to his discharge being “a special case”. It might have been a compassionate discharge at James Slim’s own request, or because the regiment had not quite swept away “the old prejudices.” He was discharged from the regiment on the 26th March 1915, after serving 48 days (the original entry ’44’ has been crossed through). His fate remains unknown.
Sources:
UK, British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920. TNA 363/3753. From ancestry.co.uk
Grantham Journal, 6th March 1915.
1)Hampshire Advertiser, 1st May 1915. From findmypast.co.uk
2)Berks and Oxon Advertiser, 12th March 1915. From findmypast.co.uk
3)Gleeson, J. Pomp and Circumstance: A History on the Band of HM Coldstream Guards. 1685-2015. (RHQ. Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London. 2015). Pages 38-106.
4)Leeds Mercury, 5th March 1915. From findmypast.co.uk
5)Hamilton Daily Times, 26th March 1915. From findmypast.co.uk
6)Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 6th March 1915. From findmypast.co.uk
7)UK, British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920. TNA 363/3753. From ancestry.co.uk
8)Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 6th March 1915. From findmypast.co.uk