Page 22 - Sirmooree Digital Book

when his telephone played up very badly his custom was to throw it
through his open window. The Signal Platoon quickly latched on to
what they thought was Slater Sahib’s curious habit and kept a few
instruments in reserve to be able to restore his usual sunny temper and
their reputation in short order. Towards the end of his time with us,
Jim took delight in commanding D Company on operations, and he
was mentioned in despatches for his outstanding services, particularly
as our IO.
In March 1952 Jim left us to rejoin the 1 st/60th where he commanded D
(Training) Company at first in Germany and then in Libya where he
later enjoyed being Technical Adjutant. In 1953 and 1954 he was
successively GSO 3 of 42 Infantry Division (TA), Staff Captain at HQ
Salisbury Plain District, and Training Officer at the Rifle Depot in
Winchester. In 1957-59 he was GSO 3 HQ North West District, Preston,
and then again Staff Captain HQ Salisbury Plain District until he
retired in September 1959.
In 1960 Jim and Jenefer, daughter of Brigadier EF Davies, DSO, MC*,
late The Royal Ulster Rifles, were married and settled in Yorkshire
where Jim first worked for a large mail order company and then, more
happily, helped to administer the East Pennine division of a
nationwide Sheltered Housing Association.
It was in Yorkshire that Jim began his interest in narrow gauge working
trains by joining local enthusiasts to visit Welsh slate mines and some
small hill-side railways. In 1987, when they retired to Budleigh
Salterton, he determined to have a 16 mm garden railway of his own
which he and Jenefer (a Landscape Architect) managed to fit into their
tiny back garden. The twists and turns of the track ensured that
visiting trains behaved themselves by slowing down to a suitable
speed. It was lovingly known as the Budleigh Bumblebahn and greatly
admired by numerous visitors. Among Jim’s other interests he was an
avid reader of an amazing number of subjects ranging from
archaeology through history and ships of all kinds and periods. He
also wrote authentic articles for modelling magazines in the UK and
the United States and he exhibited his own beautiful working models.
Besides having been a good soldier and an extremely skilful model
maker, Jim Slater was a friendly, amusing, colourful and erudite
person, kind and generous in every way. He was always keenly
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