Military History

Heald enlisted with the Artillery Reinf. at Guildford 29.9.1915. He was sent to Maribyrnong, Vic. for further Artillery Training.
Embarked Melbourne per HMAT ‘Nestor’ for Egypt 11.10.1915.
Roll Rank Driver.
Roll Unit No 4 section 1st Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC) 11th Reinf.
Heald disembarked in Egypt with his unit. He was posted to the 1st DAC No.4 Section 12.11.1915 in Cairo and taken on strength. Heald was transferred to Tel el Kebir 8.3.1916. and then to Alexandria. Heald and his section joined the BEF in Alexandria and embarked for France 26.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 3.4.1916. Heald was AWOL for 2 days in France and also found drunk, he forfeited 10 days pay for these actions. Heald was detached to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) 29.1.1917 in France. He was then detached back to the 1st FAB 31.1.1917. The first division endured a harsh winter on the Somme in trench warfare and was later in July, engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres, at Bullecourt, Magnicourt and Menin Road in 1917(1st Division Wikipedia). Heald was wounded in action at with penetrating SW to his abdomen, back, shoulder, thigh 24.7.1917. He was taken to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Station, however, died of wounds 25.7.1917. (reported West Australian Newspaper 20.9.1917). Heald was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Belgium, Plot 16, Row H, Number 16.(1 ¾ miles NNE of Poperinghe).
Final Rank Driver,  1st Divisional Artillery Column.
Medical Condition Dec’d, died of wounds.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes The Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery is unusual in that most graves are of known soldiers. The cemetery was located a safe distance from the front lines and was seen as an ideal location for medical support facilities. It was located near the town of Poperinghe.
In Memoriam Anzac Heroes
‘Could I, his mother have clasped his hand
Of the son I loved so well
To kiss his brow when death was nigh
and whisper’ Dear Frank Farewell.’
‘Tis only a mother who knows the sorrow,
‘Tis only a mother who knows the pain
Of loving a son she loved so dearly,
But hopes I heaven to meet him again.’
(West Australian Newspaper 25.7.1919)

Photo  Francis Heald. Sunday Times 10.3.1918 p10
          Dvr. Francis Heald. Photograph donor C. Peders, photograph sourced and reproduced courtesy SGHS 2014-08
            HMAT 'Nestor' A 73. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph source AWM PB 0607
            Menin Road. Soldiers marching to the front 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04649
            Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium.1228 Australian Soldiers graves. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A03041
          

Information Source
AWM PB 0607. HMAT 'Nestor' A 73. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04649. Menin Road. Soldiers marching to the front 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of he Australian War Memorial
AWM A0304. Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium.1228 Australian Soldiers graves. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls Frank Heald
AWM Roll of Honour- Frank Heald
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Heald F
SGHS 2014-08. Driver Frank Heald. Photograph donor C. Peders, photograph sourced and reproduced courtesy Swan Guildford Historical Society
Sunday Times
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA
Wikipedia. 1st Division http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Division_%28Australia%29


Queens Road South Guildford. WA.
Meadow Street. Guildford. WA. (Mother)

Associated Images