HEATH, Frederick Thomas
| Service Number: | 3547 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 4th Divisional Signal Company |
| Born: | Stephany, South Australia, February 1888 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Norwood Primary School |
| Occupation: | Musician |
| Died: | 23 September 1959, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW Resting at East Terrace 2 on wall 20 |
| Memorials: | Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3547, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3547, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 7 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Bombardier | |
| 25 Jan 1917: | Promoted Gunner, 11th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 10 May 1917: | Promoted Sapper, 4th Divisional Signal Company |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Frederick Thomas Heath enlisted in the war at age 27. He was born in February 1888, in Stepney, then went to Norwood Primary School. His next of Kin was his father, Alfred Heath, who lived at 28 William Street, Norwood, SA. Heath's trade was a musician. He was single and his religion was the Church of England. Heath was 5 foot 2 inches, weighed 126 pounds and had grey eyes and dark hair.
Frederick Thomas Heath started to enlist in the war on the 17th of June 1915, then was finalised on the 23 of June 1915 in Liverpool NSW. Heath joined the 1st Infinity Battalion, 11th Reinforcement. His service number was 3547A. The unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 5 October 1915.
On 7th April 1916 he got promoted to bombardier in France. Bombardiers had many roles including going to the vents at the top of breaches, doing the final assembly of ammunition and placing the ambitions in the muzzles for the gunners to fire. On August 21st, 1916, he requested to go back to being a gunner. On January 7, 1917, Heath went on leave to the United Kingdom, while he was taken on strength to the 11th Field Artillery Brigade (25/1/1917), he rejoined the battlefield on the 27th. On May 10th, 1917, Heath transferred again to the 4th Divisional Signal Company. He was taken on strength as a sapper, also known as a combat engineer. The role included helping with construction, repair, or demolition on battlefields. Heath took another leave on the 17th of November 1917 until the 1st of December. Heath stayed as a sapper until 19th June 1919 when he was to return to Australia.
After nearly 4 years on and off the battlefield, Frederick Thomas Heath was on the ship heading home on the 7th of July 1919. He died on the 23rd of September 1959. His grave is in Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Sydney, at East Terrace 2 on wall 20.
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