Harold 'Joe' Slater was a haulage hand residing in Haydock, Lancashire, before enlisting into the South Lancashire Regiment. After volunteering he was attached to No.2 Commando in 1941. He later embarked with a contingent from No 2 Commando as part of Force X sailing for Gibraltar and Malta. His name is in the Submarine Patrol Log of HMS Unbeaten used in operations from Malta, along with that of Captain Richard Broome. On their return from these intelligence gathering operations he rejoined No.2 Commando 5 Troop ('B' Section, No.4 Sub-Section).