James Sloss was the son of Robert and Eleanor Sloss, of Cheviot, New Zealand. Wounded 9 November 1918. Died of wounds, France, 23 November 1918.

On 9 November, Duncan Sloss, another Canterbury Aviation Company graduate was flying a bomber over a German target when he was attacked by 12 fighters. Both he and his observer were wounded and made a forced landing. Admitted to hospital he lingered for over a week, but died on 23 November 1918, the last New Zealand airman to lose his life as a result of enemy action. His brother had died in the New Zealand Army on the Somme in 1916, making it a double tragedy for the family. Source: https://airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/dismal-news-new-zealand-airmens-r...

Second Lieutenant James D. Sloss (Royal Air Force) was the third son of Mr Robert Sloss, Cheviot. He was educated at Spotswood, and the Waitaki Boys' High School. He gained his aviation ticket at Sockburn, sailing for England in December, 1917. He completed his training in England, was wounded in France on November 9, and died on November 23, at the age of 21 years. Jim went to Waitaki Boy's High School and like (his brother) Bob, returned to work on the farm at Leamington Downs. Like his brothers, he was a keen rugby player. Jim was one of the few who volunteered to become pilots, borrowing £200 off his father to obtain the licence. He had further training with the Royal Flying Corps before flying biplanes to support the soldiers on the ground. On 9 Nov 1918, three days before the armistice was signed, he was injured in the leg but landed safely. He then developed a laryngitis infection from which he eventually died [note, this differs from the Air Force Museum account above]. He also (like Bob) was just 21 years and 6 months old. Unpublished SLOSS REUNION DOCUMENT : 4 Jan 1997 via Wikitree https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sloss-287

Sources

1. Air Force Museum: https://airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/dismal-news-new-zealand-airmens-r...
2. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
3. Sloss Reunion Document via Wikitree https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sloss-287