HEAWOOD, William John Joseph
| Service Number: | 1529 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 November 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hamilton, Tasmania, Australia, 8 October 1886 |
| Home Town: | Ouse, Central Highlands, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 18 April 1958, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1529, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 1529, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 1529, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William Heawood was one of three brothers who served in the AIF during the First World War. All three enlisted in 1914, and William was the oldest. His youngest brother 1217 Pte. James Charles Heawood 12th Battalion was killed in action at Gallipoli on the 19 May 1915, aged 22. Another younger brother 1044 Private Edward Oscar Heawood 15th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Pozieres in August 1916, aged 26.
They were the sons of William and Eliza Heawood of Ouse, Tasmania.
William landed on Gallipoli on 7 May 1915, two weeks after the Anzac Landing. He suffered a gunshot wound to his hand at the end of May 1915 and was evacuated to Egypt. He returned to Gallipoli during August 1915 and served until the evacuation.
He was wounded again at Mouquet Farm in France, during late August 1916. After recovering at Etaples he transferred to the 51st Battalion during October 1916.
William was promoted to Corporal then Sergeant during 1917. On 25 September 1917, in Belgium, he was severely wounded by shrapnel in the hip and right arm and evacuated to England. The injuries ended his war, and included a fractured right arm and a damaged elbow. He was returned to Australia in May 1918.
A few months later the Hobart Mercury described his welcome home to Ouse which was printed in July 1918, under the heading, OUSE, ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME HOME TO A RETURNED SOLDIER.
“On Monday the township was in a state of profound excitement awaiting the motorcar that was bringing home one of our boys who has seen nearly four years of active service at the front, Sergeant W. Heawood. All the houses and prominent outposts were gaily decorated with ‘Our Flag’ and the flags of our Allies. The gathering included the Warden (Councillor F C K Pitt) who on the motor’s arrival at 12.50, formally welcomed, in a few well-chosen remarks, the hero back to his native place The State-school scholars, carrying a banner inscribed ‘Welcome Home’ in large type marched to the scene and after the usual hearty cheers rendered by all present sang with the gathering ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.’ After hearty cheers the crowd dispersed and prepared for the public welcome which took place in the local hill on Tuesday evening…..the warden mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Heawood had sent three sons into the firing line and two of them had made the supreme sacrifice. He made mention also of the fact that Sergeant Heawood was one of the first to land on Gallipoli, and one of the first to leave and had since taken put in many of the strenuous fights on the Western front. The large gathering was sufficient proof of the appreciation of Sergeant Heawood s services and the great joy of his return and the Warden right heartily welcomed him on behalf of the municipality.”