HEANE, James
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 September 1914, Member 5th Infantry Brigade starting as 2nd Lt 28/2/1899 promoted to Capt 26/6/1911 |
| Last Rank: | Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney New South Wales, Australia, 29 December 1874 |
| Home Town: | Dubbo, Dubbo Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer and area officer |
| Died: | cerebral thrombosis, Collaroy, Sydney, New South Wales,, 20 August 1954, aged 79 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Dubbo District School Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, 4th Infantry Battalion, Member 5th Infantry Brigade starting as 2nd Lt 28/2/1899 promoted to Capt 26/6/1911 | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Captain, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Captain, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 1 Jan 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Jul 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Major, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, wound to thumb, stayed on duty | |
| 6 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Major, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to left thigh | |
| 11 Sep 1915: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Distinguished Service Order 'On 1st May, 1915, during the operations near Gaba Tepe, for displaying conspicuous gallantry in leading his company to the support of a small force which, in an isolated trench, was without means of reinforcement, replenishment, or retreat. He attained his object at a heavy sacrifice.' | |
| 28 Oct 1915: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 1 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Infantry Battalion, Officer in Command | |
| 6 Jun 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Infantry Brigade Headquarters, Temp officer in Command | |
| 1 Oct 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Colonel, 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade, granted temporary rank of Brigadier General | |
| 7 Dec 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Colonel, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, 2nd Infantry Brigade GSW to head (slight) | |
| 29 Jun 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 29 Jun 1917: | Honoured Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, CMG Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 103 Date: 29 June 1917 | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 18 Apr 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 18 Apr 1918: | Honoured Companion of the Order of the Bath, Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 Date: 18 April 1918 CMG | |
| 24 Oct 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, 24 October 1918 on page 2055 at position 39 | |
| 23 May 1919: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 30 Oct 1919: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 7 Jan 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Colonel, 1st Infantry Battalion, Having held rank of Brigadier General when commanding 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Extract from Australian Dictionary of Biography
Brigadier General James 'Cast Iron Jimmy' Heane
Strict, serious, energetic, Heane was popular with his men. He was an archetype of the higher level Australian commander of World War I and 'one of the great field successes of the war'. He became an orchardist soon after returning to Australia and settled on a large citrus orchard at West Pennant Hills. He was president of the Fruitgrowers' Federation of New South Wales in 1922-41. He remained actively associated with the army and in World War II commanded the State Volunteer Defence Corps until 1942.
AWM short Biography
Heane was born in Sydney, NSW, in 1874, and served enthusiastically in the cadets as a young man. In 1899 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the militia, serving with 3 Australian Infantry Regiment and 2 Light Horse Regiment. On the outbreak of war in 1914, he joined the AIF, becoming a captain with 4 Infantry Battalion. By the time of the landing at Gallipoli, he had been promoted to major and placed in command of D Company.
He quickly earned the nickname 'Cast Iron Jimmy' amongst his men for his coolness and apparent invulnerability to enemy fire, and in May 1915 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. During the attack on Lone Pine on 6 August 1915, Heane was wounded. His wounds caused Heane to be evacuated to hospital in Egypt, and he was not fit to rejoin his unit before the evacuation of Anzac in December.
In early 1916, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and placed in command of 1 Battalion, which was about to move to the Western Front. He proved a successful leader on the Western Front, rising to command 2 Australian Infantry Brigade as colonel, and being appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). He was also awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre and seven times mentioned in despatches. Between the wars, Heane was a successful orchardist, and was also leader of the secretive far right wing 'Old Guard' movement in NSW. During the Second World War, he held command of the state Volunteer Defence Corps units, but retired in 1942. 'Cast Iron Jimmy' Heane died in Sydney in August 1954.
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