HEASMAN, Gilbert Arthur
| Service Number: | 2145 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 April 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lewes, Sussex, England, April 1893 |
| Home Town: | Geraldton, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fettler |
| Died: | Surrey, England, 1965, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2145, 11th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2145, 11th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2145, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Fremantle | |
| 4 Oct 1916: | Honoured Military Medal, "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the operations of 23/25th July 1916 which culminated in the capture of POZIERES he was employed as a runner and conveyed important messages over very broken ground to all parts of the front line. He was frequently exposed to heavy shell fire and on many occasions had to penetrate hostile artillery barrage. The messages were delivered with the utmost despatch. He showed a fine devotion to duty." The Military Medal was awarded to three Privates simultaneously - 2132 Private William George ELIAS 1063 Private Robert Roy GENNOE 2146 Private Gilbert Arthur HEASMAN |
Help us honour Gilbert Arthur Heasman's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Gilbert, born in Sussex, England, emigrated to Western Australia in 1912, following his brother Albert who had emigrated early the previous year. Frederick Heasman joined his brothers in 1913. Prior to enlisting in the AIF, Gilbert and Albert worked as fettlers, helping to lay the railway line from Geraldton to Mt Magnet, a gold mining town.
All three brothers joined the AIF. Gilbert and Albert Heasman were both awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
Gilbert’s older brother, 291 Pte. Frederick Heasman 13th Machine Gun Company was killed in action during the Battle of Polygon Wood in Belgium on 26 September 1917, aged 27.
Gilbert joined the 11th Battalion in Geraldton, Western Australia and left Australia in June 1915. He served at Gallipoli almost as soon as he arrived but was evacuated sick only weeks later. He rejoined his unit at the Dardanelles in September 1915 and served until the evacuation.
Gilbert Heasman was awarded a Military Medal for his gallantry during the toughest of fighting at Pozieres, his recommendation stating, “During the operations 22nd/25th July 1916 which culminated in the capture of Pozieres, Heasman was employed as a runner and conveyed important messages over very broken ground to all parts of the front line. He was frequently exposed to heavy shell fire and on many occasions had to penetrate hostile artillery barrages. The messages were delivered with the utmost despatch. He showed a fine devotion to duty.”
He served right through 1917 and 1918, being promoted to Lance Corporal. He was given leave to England just after the Armistice and was married there to Beatrice Ethel Weaver on 27 November 1918. He returned to Australia with his new wife during early 1919, but apparently his wife struggled to settle in Australia, and they returned to England in 1920.
Gilbert and Beatrice raised a daughter in England lived there for the remainder of their lives.
Click images to start slideshow.