Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arrived in Australia aged 15 years and 6 months

Son of Morris and Margaret Hearn of Canterbury Road, Canterbury, NSW formerly of Perry Street, Campsie, NSW. Brother of Lillian Hearn

On the Roll of Honour Circular his mother wrote that his age at the time of death was actually 16 years and 8 months

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Alexander Joseph Hearn, known as Joe, was born in January 1899 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne UK, the second eldest of 5 children born to his parents Morris and Margaret.  His older brother was William, his younger siblings were Lawrence, Lillian and Dora.  Joe was educated at St Dominic’s Catholic School at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and worked as a tailor’s machinist.  The family emigrated to Australia in early 1914 and settled at Campsie NSW. 

When WW1 broke out Joe enlisted on 16th November at Liverpool Camp NSW.  Seeing as he was under age he gave his age as 21 but he was actually only 15.  He’s described as being 5ft 7ins tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair.  His service number was 1451, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Battalion 2nd Reinforcements which was part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division.  Several times in his service record his rank is referred to as Bugler.  Perhaps the authorities suspected that he was under age because boys aged 14-17 could enlist as buglers, trumpeters and musicians.  Joe embarked from Sydney on HMAT Seang Bee on 11th February 1915 and disembarked at Suez Egypt on 23rd March.  He proceeded to Mena Camp for a very brief period of training and transferred into C Company of the 4th Infantry Battalion on 30th March. 

On 5th April 1915, Joe with the Battalion, embarked from Alexandria on HMT Lake Michigan bound for Gallipoli.  They anchored in Mudros Harbour at Lemnos Island until midday on the 24th April then proceeded to Gallipoli.  On the way there the troops were addressed on the deck of the ship by the Commander of the 4th Battalion, Colonel Astley Thompson.  A message was also read out from the Commander of the 1st Brigade, Colonel Henry MacLaurin, which said: “Men, - You are soon to go into action.  Your training has made you fit for it and I have the greatest confidence in your courage and resolution.  Just one word – keep a cool head, and listen to the fire orders of your officers.  When you shoot, let every bullet find its mark; when you use the bayonet, see that you stick it in. Good luck!”  Sadly, just 2 days later a sniper bullet killed MacLaurin as he stood up on the hill that now bears his name.  Colonel Thompson was killed the day before MacLaurin. 

The Lake Michigan anchored offshore of Gallipoli at 7pm on the 24th then in the early morning on the 25th the ship moved into position just north Gaba Tepe.  The first tow went ashore at 6.45am with the 4th Battalion landing in the 2nd and 3rd waves.  They made their way to Shrapnel Valley and took over the trenches there on the 30th April.  In early May Joe’s C company was held in the trenches south of Wire Gully at MacLaurin’s Hill.  On 10th May Joe was severely wounded by a sniper bullet that broke both of his collar bones and shattered his right arm.  The force of that bullet spun him around making him a target for the enemy and he sustained another 5 bullets in the back with all of them piercing his left lung.  He was evacuated to the beach and taken onto HMT Lutzow which carried him to Alexandria Egypt where he was admitted to the 17th General Hospital 3 days later.  While there he contracted typhoid and was evacuated to England on the hospital ship HMHS Asturias on 17th July.  He was admitted to the 4th London General Hospital where he died from empyema (pockets of pus that collect inside a body cavity) caused by the bullet wounds to his chest.  He was just 16 years and 8 months old.  He was buried at Byker and Heaton Cemetery at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the suburb where he grew up.  He was one of the youngest soldiers to enlist in the NSW contingents.  The youngest soldier to serve in WW1 from NSW, and Australia, was Private James Martin from Tocumwal.  He was killed at Gallipoli on 25th October 1915 aged 14.   

After the war Joe’s parents Morris and Margaret received a Memorial Scroll, Plaque and Royal Letter from the King, which was presented to the next of kin of those who died while serving in the Australian Imperial Force in WW1, acknowledging Joe’s service and their loss as a family. 

Joe is commemorated on panel 40 of the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT.            

Alexander Joseph Hearn was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Anzac Commemorative Medallion.   

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 20th February 2024.

Sources

The Lost Boys by Paul Byrnes (Book)