A member of the heroic and much-admired Army Air Corps, our furry fund-raiser works hard to raise funds for Holidays 4 Heroes, Help Them Out and other service organisations. He is the current serving representative of a distinguished line of Bears. He has an eye for the ladies, and although the Jury is still out on that case involving the panda, he retains substantial Public support.

Most rumours concerning his relationship with Ursine Super-Model Kyla have been suppressed after a lengthy case in the High Court, but Slingsby still retains a ‘certain reputation' where the opposite sex is concerned.

Read on for the full illustrious story ... but first the Adult Stuff ... 

Sergeant Slingsby Senior, 1942-1965

Real History ... 

The Army Air Corps was formed in February 1942, under Army Order 21 of 1942, and comprised the Glider Pilot Regiment and Parachute Regiment. To these was added The Special Air Service Regiment [aka "Them"] in April 1944. The AAC was broken up in 1949, with the SAS returning to its independent status, while the Parachute Regiment and Glider Pilot Regiment came under the umbrella of the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps. The pilots who had once flown the gliders soon had to transfer to flying powered aircraft, becoming part of the Air Observation Post Squadrons. In 1957 the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps was renamed as The Parachute Regiment, and the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Air Observation Squadrons amalgamated into a new unit, the Army Air Corps.

So ... what did Slingsby Senior do in World War II? He flew his fragile, unarmed, defenceless, glider into the heat of battle in enemy territory. He carefully crash-landed his precious cargo of troops and equipment directly into the battlefield. He WAS one of the men of Arnhem, that "Bridge Too Far", who flew into the unknown with only one certain prospect ... there was NO going back.

The entire Sergeant Slingsby concept is dedicated to all those Glider Pilots and Paratroopers who took a giant and brave leap into the unknown ... and to those today who face the challenges of a faceless enemy, roadside bombs, and the other horrors of modern warfare.

The aim of "Sergeant Slingsby" is to make things a little better for service personnel who suffer today.

The 3 paintings below are by David Thorp, a supporter of The Assault Glider Trust

and some more great glider images

OPERATION MARKET GARDEN, 17 - 25 September 1944

Operation MARKET GARDEN was devised to secure a series of bridges in the Netherlands. Operation GARDEN involved the ground advance by Allied forces, and Operation MARKET would be the largest airborne operation in history, delivering over 34,600 men of the 101st, 82nd, 1st Airborne Divisions and the Polish Brigade. 14,589 troops were landed by glider, and 20,011 by parachute. Gliders also brought in 1,736 vehicles and 263 artillery pieces. 3,342 tons of ammunition and other supplies were brought in by glider and parachute drop.

To deliver its 36 battalions of airborne infantry and their support troops to the continent, the First Allied Airborne Army had under its operational control the 14 groups of IX Troop Carrier Command, and after August 31, the 16 squadrons of both 38 Group (an organization of converted bombers providing support to resistance groups) and a transport formation, 46 Group.

The combined force had available 1,438 C-47/Dakota transports (1,274 USAAF and 164 RAF) and 321 converted RAF bombers. The Allied glider force had been rebuilt after Normandy until by September 16 it numbered 2,160 CG-4A Waco gliders, 916 Airspeed Horsas (812 RAF and 104 US Army), and 64 General Aircraft Hamilcars.

It was at the last bridge at Arnhem, "A Bridge Too Far", that the Glider Pilot Regiment assured its place in history.

OPERATION VARSITY, 24 March 1945

The purpose of Operation VARSITY was to land over 16,000 men of the British 6th and American 17th Airborne divisions on the German held East bank of the River Rhine, on an area five to ten miles wide and five miles deep. Each glider was given the task of landing right on top of its specific objective. 392 Horsa gliders and 14 Hamilcar gliders were used in the operation.

Many of the Horsa gliders were flown by RAF pilots attached to the Army's Glider Pilot Regiment.

The Glider Pilot Regiment had suffered 90% casualties at the battle of Arnhem and 1,500 RAF pilots had been drafted in to the Regiment for the Rhine Crossing. Many of these were very experienced pilots, from the rank of sergeant pilot to squadron leader. Whereas Army pilots were selected from very tough and skilful soldiers before being trained as pilots by the RAF, the RAF pilots drafted into the Regiment had to be turned into tough fighting soldiers very quickly as they would have to fight on the ground after landing.

The Glider Pilot Regiment was awarded the Battle Honour "Rhine" for its part in this operation. 60% of the pilots killed in action were RAF pilots attached to the Glider Pilot Regiment.

With permission of the Author ... 

Arnhem - Beret Red

In the stillness of the morning,
The acrid gunfire smoke still hangs.
No more crying of the wounded,
No more the screaming shells and bangs
Just the smell of death and carnage
And twisted bodies of the dead
In a field somewhere in Arnhem
Covered now in Airborne Red

No more the sounds of aeroplanes
No more parachutes now in sight
Just the toll of death and carnage
Of this a savage bloody fight
In a field somewhere in Arnhem
The twisted bodies of the dead
In a field somewhere in Arnhem
Covered now in Beret Red.

© ”Arnhem-Beret Red.”
Leslie de la Haye.
6th November 1992.

And now, on with a possible Slingsby Family History ...

Few records remain of the Slingsby Family from earlier times. One portrait recently discovered appears to show a likeness to today's Slingsby.

This opinion is reinforced by the accompanying Lady-Bear, who conforms to the stereotypical "tall blonde" preference encountered frequently with the male Slingsbys of later generations.

The English Civil War [1642 - 1651]

Sadly saw Sir Archibald Slingsby choose the losing side. A Royalist to the core, he served the King faithfully until, at the Battle of Honeywell, a musket ball penetrated his fur with devastating effects on his stuffing.

Mercifully, several illegitimate offspring and one or two proper ones, survived to carry on the family name.

The Restoration of the Monarchy [1660]

Saw Sir Archibald's eldest son, Cuthbert, making early steps towards re-establishing the family's place in society. Cuthbert was seen, by some, as a bit of a "soft" Bear, and an early association with a "certain Poetry Circle" reinforced that perception.

However, the subsequent birth of a daughter, Demelza, and a son, William, dispelled those foul rumours.

Cuthbert led the quiet life of a country gentleman during the week, but preferred the livelier activities of Town at weekends. Sadly, the family townhouse in Aldershot was destroyed by fire whilst Cuthbert was in residence.

The Jacobite Risings [between 1686 and 1746]

Angus McSlingsby spent hours annoying the British by playing noises from a pig's bladder. This eventually led, through a quirk of history, to Gordon Brown becoming the British Prime Minister.

It is for those reasons that the Slingsby Family, to this day, avoid both Porridge and Labour whenever possible.

Occasional visits North of The Border are known as ‘going to annoy the Scots by demanding money'.

The American Revolution, 1775 - 1783.

This War was notable for both its long duration and the fact that American Forces participated from the outset. The Americans were assisted by Britain's usual opponents of the time: the French, and the Spanish, and the Dutch.

Drummer Slingsby of the 10th of Foot accompanied British Forces in the American War of Independence. His experiences during those dreadful years were published in a small manuscript entitled, "Doe a Bear sh1t in the Woods - Yea, Verily!"

Drummer Slingsby returned intact to the British Isles in 1777 to become the drummer for a prototype Rock Band. However, the Publik retained their affection for Claƒical Musak, and the venture was a total failure. Subsequently, a Russian called Tchaikovsky plagiarized part of the group's work when composing his 1812 Overture.

The Indian Mutiny, 1857

To escape the tedium of life in England in the reign of Queen Victoria, God Bless Her, Wilberforce Slingsby purchased a commission in the British East India Company and sailed, in 1856, to India. He quickly found himself receiving much admiration from the ladies, and by May 1857 was comfortably installed in the Residency in Lucknow. It was unfortunate that the unrest started shortly afterwards.

However, Lt Slingsby bravely stuck to his post in the British Commissioner's wife's bedroom, and comforted her nightly throughout the dark days of the siege. He remained at his post after the First Relief of Lucknow, and was eventually evacuated to Cawnpore in November 1857.

He later resigned his commission, retaining the rank of Major, and opened a series of Tea Rooms and small Hotels across India. These proved to be popular gathering places for the British troops and unattached young women.

He passed away quietly in his bed in 1888 from a surfeit of ... young women.

Later Victorian Times

Some members of the Slingsby family fell upon hardship. Some were forced to beg, and others were made to pose in sailor suits to be photographed by passing tourists.

Others were required to work in factories to sustain the ever-growing family of small Slingsbys.

It was during this period that the Slingsbys again became convinced that it was "better to Serve than Starve" and thus continued the sound military history they enjoy to this day.

The Edwardian Era, when Edward Bears should have done really well

Prince, later King, Edward set the tone for the "Naughty Nineties" and it was hardly surprising that a Slingsby [in this case] stood up for his Prince/King. Mingling with the outer fringes of the Court, Hugh Slingsby rapidly acquired a reputation for skill at cards, gargantuan eating and the copious consumption of wine.

Untamed by marriage, Hugh lived the life of a libertine until, in 1906, he choked violently whilst smoking a large cigar and expired gently under the card table, leaving the King, 3 Queens -- and Jack.

His funeral was attended by his legitimate son, Wilfred, and a remarkably large number of nieces.

World War One, 1914 - 1918, aka The Great War

Although many records of the period have been lost, there is some evidence that a Lieutenant Wilfred K. Slingsby [1893-1935] served in the Royal Flying Corps. It appears that, during a period in hospital, following a serious landing accident, he fell in lust with the nurse who tended him. The current Slingsby line is thus believed to derive from their passionate liaison during the turmoil of The Great War.

Other opinions suggest that he was just a typical member of Aircrew, permanently on the pull and with a diminished sense of social responsibility. However, it has been confirmed that "A Certain Nurse" enjoyed his close attentions.

On 1 April 1918, the Royal Air Force was formed, and all RFC and RNAS personnel were transferred to the new Service. Lt. Slingsby could not countenance that situation, and accordingly resigned his commission to become a common machine-gunner in the trenches using the pseudonym "Christopher".

Wilfred survived The War and returned to England where he continued to pursue his love of flying. In 1926 he founded his own airline conveying passengers and mail between the UK and Spain, called "I Bear Ya", but it foundered during the Depression. His later years were spent in intensive correspondence with those with whom he had served.

Continuing ‘research' may well uncover further parts of the Slingsby Family History. For now, we thank you for your patience and questionable sanity in reading thus far.

And so the story continues...

One of the Bearers (to Afghanistan) has found some old photographs of his Grandfather, a member of the Glider Pilot Regiment no less.

Photo Credit: Sgt John Evans, Glider Pilot Regiment (John is on the far right and this photograph was taken on the eve of the launch to Arnhem on Operation Market Garden)

Should you feel inclined to make a donation to Holidays 4 Heroes as you leave, we would obviously be very grateful.

With acknowledgement of various talented International Bear-Makers, whose excellent product images have been ‘borrowed' to illustrate this document. We hope they understand that it was done for a good cause.