Robert Sloan was the son of Robert and Mary Sloan. He was born on 20th October 1882 in the Dungannon area. He was one of ten children. Sergeant Major Sloan formerly served in the 16th (Queen's) Lancers', and served through the Boer War. Sergeant-Major Robert Sloan moved to Timaru, New Zealand. He was the Staff Sergeant-major of the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Regiment for between three and four years. When the war broke out, Robert re-enlisted for active service. Staff Sergeant Major Sloan was killed in action at Gallipoli on 21st August 1915.
Further Information
Robert Sloan was the son of Robert and Mary Sloan. Robert Sloan and Mary Rocks were married on 31st December 1870 in the district of Dungannon.
Robert Sloan was born on 20th October 1882 he was one of ten children all born in the Dungannon and Clogher areas.
Known family: Robert Sloan, Mary Sloan, James Sloan (born 7th June 1871), Mary Sloan (born 23rd January 1873), Elizabeth Sloan (born 12th June 1876), Anne Sloan (born 9th January 1878), unnamed male (born 5th July 1879), Elizabeth Sloan (born 19th June 1880), Robert Sloan (born 20th October 1882)m Charlotte Sloan (born 3rd February 1885), William Sloan (born 15th December 1886), Thomas Sloan (born 15th December 1889).
Sergeant Major Sloan formerly served in the 16th (Queen's) Lancers', and served through the Boer War.
Sergeant-Major Robert Sloan moved to Timaru, New Zealand. He was the Staff Sergeant-Major of the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Regiment for between three and four years, and (says the Christchurch "Press") played no small part in bringing it up to the high degree of efficiency which enabled the regiment to win the Stead Shield at the annual camp.
Sergeant-Major Robert Sloan moved to Timaru, New Zealand. He was the Staff Sergeant-major of the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Regiment for three to four years, and (says the Christchurch "Press") played no small part in bringing it up to the high degree of efficiency which enabled the regiment to win the Stead Shield at the annual camp.
Staff Sergeant Major Robert Sloan embarked for Egypt with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles on 16th October 1914.
The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea.
The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac.
On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. At the beginning of August 1915, Hill 60, which commanded the shore ward communications between the forces at Anzac and Suvla, was in Turkish hands.
On 22 August, it was attacked from Anzac by the Canterbury and Otago Mounted Rifles, followed later by the 18th Australian Infantry Battalion and supported on the flanks by other troops. It was partly captured and on 27-29 August, and the captured ground was extended by the 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th Australian Infantry Battalions, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, the 5th Connaught Rangers, and the 9th and 10th Australian Light Horse.
The ground was held until the evacuation in December.
Staff Sergeant Major Robert Sloan was killed in action at Gallipoli on 21st August 1915, aged 32.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 14th September 1915:
Mr Robert Sloan, Elm Lodge, Dungannon, has received intimation that his son Robert has been killed in action in the Gallipoli Peninsula on 21st August when serving with the New Zealand contingent. The deceased had served throughout the South African war with the Royal Irish Rifles, and afterwards joined the 16th Lancers, in which corps he obtained the rank of Sergeant Major. After his term of service had expired he went out to New Zealand, and for three years acted as an instructor in the local defence force there. On the call to arms sounding in New Zealand, he volunteered. He leaves a widow and two children. A brother of the deceased, Trooper William Sloan, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, has been missing since 6th November last, when he was doing his duty in France with the 2nd Life Guards. Another brother, Private Thomas Sloan, volunteered at the outbreak of hostilities, and joining the Army Veterinary Corps, is now on active service in France with the Mobile Veterinary Section.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 23rd September 1915:
Mr Robert Sloan, Elm Lodge, Dungannon, has received intimation that his son Robert has been killed in action in the Gallipoli Peninsula on 21st August when serving with the New Zealand contingent. The deceased had served throughout the South African war and a brother of the deceased has been missing since 6th November last. The deceased leaves a widow and two children.
After his death, Mrs Eleanor Sloan, along with their two children, went home to England.
Robert's brother also died in the war. Private William Sloan (21205) was serving with the 6th Dragoons (Inniskilling) when he died on 6th November 1914, age 27.
Staff Sergeant Major Robert Sloan has no known grave and is commemorated on Hill 60 New Zealand Memorial in Turkey.
Staff Sergeant Major Robert Sloan is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
The CWGC record Sergeant Major Robert Sloan as the husband of Eleanor Sloan of 10 Clifton Gardens, Stamford Hill, London and later of 22 High Street, Sidcup, Kent, England.
