Sapper Edward Heaton

SAPPER EDWARD HEATON

6202 – May 1917 Reinforcements Tunnelling Companies

Newcastle-on-Tyne, England was the birthplace of Edward Heaton in the third quarter of 1882 the son of Edward and Elizabeth (nee Carlyle) Heaton. In 1891 the family was living at 73 Durham Street, Elswick, Newcastle-on-Tyne and was made up of Edward (40) Leather bell-maker, Elizabeth (36), Mary E. (16), Arthur (12), Edward (8), Bartram (6) and Robert (3).

Ten years later in 1901 the family were still in Elwsick and consisted of Edward (50) bell-maker, Elizabeth (46), Arthur (22), Edward (18) mechanical engineer, Bartram (16) and Robert (13).

He came to Australia and was married to Elizabeth and they had one child. In 1917 his residence was at the River View Hotel, Launceston, Tas.

At the Recruiting Depot in Launceston, Tasmania on March 21, 1917 the married engineer applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Attestation forms were completed and describe him as 168cms (5ft 6ins) tall, weighing 67.2kgs (148lbs) with a chest expansion of 89-95cms (35-37½ins). His brown eyes tested to good vision and had a dark complexion with brown coloured hair. He had only a partial finger on his left hand which was classed as a distinctive mark. Presbyterian was his religion. Next-of-kin was his wife Elizabeth Heaton care of Mrs Davidson, Kingswood, N. Quorn, South Australia and allotted three-fifths of his pay to support her and their child. He signed and took ‘The Oath’ the same day.

Basic training commenced the next day with the 1st Depot Battalion in Claremont (6th Military District), Tasmania but his enlistment may have been a place to escape the following as reported in the Examiner (Launceston) on Thursday April 12, 1917:

He was released to return to Claremont camp and completed basic training on May 7, 1917. During this period he was granted Home Leave. He was transferred to the Miners’ training camp at Seymour, Victoria (3rd M.D.) for further instruction joining the May, 1917 Reinforcements in ‘B Coy’ in the rank of Sapper.

Throughout his initial training he had some trouble adjusting to the constraints of Military life as the following took place but this conduct did not reflect on character as he was rated ‘Good Character:

Claremont20/4/17AWL midnight 20/4/17 to 2 p.m. 21/4/17

Forfeit 1 days pay 5/

Domain camp 8/5/17AWL 1 p.m. 8/5/17 to 10 a.m. 10.5.17

Forfeit 3 days pay. Fined 15/ value of rail warrant Melbourne to

Seymour return fare for escort, to be stopped from pay.

Seymour 7/6/17AWL 10 a.m. 5/6/17 to 7 p.m. 6/6/17

Fined 30/- and 7 days C.B. [Confined to Barracks]

On June 19, 1917 he appeared before a Medical Board and his Statement of Case reads:

Disability, date & place:Pleurisy, Chronic Bronchitis; 1915; Broken Hill, NSW

Essential facts:1915 working in mines when he first got pleurisy. Was ill 13 weeks Was tapped twice. Enjoyed good health until last October when wet

and exposure caused a return. He was rejected in 1915 for service on account of chest.

Causes of disability:Exposure. Not caused by any of these – active service

Present condition:Pains in chest and tightness. Dyspnoea [breathless] on exertion. He

is weak and anaemic. Is at present Bronchitic. There are loud

expiratory and inspiratory rhonchi all over chest and rales at bases.

Special treatment:Yes, hospital.

Decay of teeth attributable:Not dental

Recommendation:Permanently unfit. No change to another state.

Pathological condition:Chronic Pleurisy and Bronchitis.

Duration of illness:Permanent for Military Service. Confirmed 26/6/17

Military Discharge was issued from the Technical Battalion, Seymour on June 29, 1917 due to medical unfitness after serving 101 days. It was not due to misconduct and he was of good character.

As Sapper 6202 Edward Heaton, Reinforcements Tunnelling Companies did not leave Australia to serve his country he was ineligible for any war service medals.

His Attestation forms and discharge documents were forward to Base Records on June 30, 1917 and received and dated on July 9, 1917.

In 1954 he was a resident at Eventide, Sandgate, Brisbane and died on October 1, 1954 at about 72 years of age. Arrangements appeared in The Courier-Mail on Saturday October 2, 1954:

The location of his unmarked grave is Anzac Portion 8 of the Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane within Section 11 in grave no. 49.