Sloan, George Henry (1878 - 1915)

Captain, 2nd Bn. Scottish Horse

Buried at Lala Baba Cemetery

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

George Henry Sloan, third surviving son of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Sloan, 5 Somerset Place, died on 16th November, 1915, from wounds received at the Gallipoli Peninsula. Captain Sloan seemed to have the joy of battle in his blood. He was one of the first to volunteer for the South African War, and there he won for himself the reputation of being a dashing and resolute soldier.

When war broke out in August, 1914, he helped to raise a Legion of Frontiersmen in Vancouver, and offered their services to the Government. The Government, as usual, was in no hurry to come to a decision, and the eager soldier, chafing at inactivity when great deeds were afoot in Europe, wired his offer to Lord Roberts, and through his good offices the corps was soon in England. Here, however, it was disbanded, and its members merged in other regiments.

Captain Sloan was offered and accepted a captaincy in the 2nd Scottish Horse, and proceeded with them to Gallipoli. It was characteristic of him that he should meet his death while trying to bring one of his wounded men into a place of safety. He was the soul of kindness and good fellowship, and in the opinion of all who knew him a very gallant gentleman.

A fellow officer, Lieutenant Aitken, writes of him, "I had the honour to call George my best friend, and can assure you that I never met a finer soldier and gentleman. If I could have been taken and he left, the Empire would have been the gainer, but we have not the arranging of these things."