Military History

Embarked Adelaide per HMAT ’Borda’ A30 for Egypt 23.6.1915.
Roll Rank Private .
Roll Unit 12th Infantry Bn. 6th Reinf.
Heron disembarked in Egypt. After several months of intensive training, he joined the MEF at Alexandria and embarked for Gallipoli. Heron was taken on strength with the 12th Bn. 6.8.1915. The 6th and 7th Reinforcements underwent a period of training in musketry, trench digging and sapping at Anzac, they did not fight in the battle of Lone Pine. By October the  cold winter nights took their toll, the 12th Bn relieved the 11th Bn. in the trenches  arund the Bivouac Area. Heron  and his Bn. were evacuated from Gallipoli per HT ‘Lake Michigan’ in December and disembarked at Alexandria 6.1.1916.  Heron was transferred from the 12th Battalion (Bn) to the  to the 52nd Bn. following a period of AIF re-organisation in prepartion for the re deployment to the Western Front.  He was deployed to the Railhead at Suez 1.3.1916, to the  13th Brigade at Tel-el-Kebir 1.3.1916, then to the 12th Bn. at Tel-el-Kebir 1.3.1916.  A fortnight later he was transferred to the 4th Division Artillery with the 24th Howitzer Bde. 112th Battery on 14.3.1916.

Heron entrained to Alexandria 1.6.1916, joined the BEF and then embarked for France 2.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 13.6.1916. In France he was transferred from the 12th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) to the 24th FAB. The 4th Division fought at Pozieres in 1916 and in winter they returned to the trenches on the Somme. Heron was transferred to 1st Anzac Divisional HQ on 14.4.1917 and was promoted to T/Bombardier 1.10.1917. Heron was promoted to Bombardier.1.1.1918 and to Corporal  4.1.1918. He was sent to Cadet School at St. John's Wood, England 24.5.1918, promoted to Sergeant 1.8.1918 and to 2nd Lieutenant 5.12.1918. Heron became sick with Influenza in June 1918. He was transferred to the No. 4 Convalescent Depot and marched out 19.12.1918. Heron was listed for transport duty and early return to Australia 2.1.1919.
Embarked for Australia per ‘Berrima’ 2.1.1919.
Disembarked Fremantle 14.2.1919.
Discharged/Appointment terminated 4.4.1919 .
Final Rank 2nd Lieut. 12th Field Artillery Brigade.
Medical Condition NK.
Awards and Medals 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Photos HMAT 'Borda' leaving Melbourne Wharf 1916. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph source AWM PB0277
             12th Bn. Observation post Gallipoli, August 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P01436.003
             Soldier walking in winter trench 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01497
             HMAS 'Berrima' under construction 1913. unsourced image Wikipedia

Information Source
AWM PB0277. HMAT 'Borda' leaving Melbourne Wharf 1916. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P01436.003. 12th Bn. Observation post Gallipoli, August 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01497. Soldier walking in winter trench 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- James Archibald Heron
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Heron A.
Wikipedia. HMAS 'Berrima' under construction 1913. unsourced image Wikipedia website, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Berrima


Keane Street, Cottesloe Beach. WA.

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