Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Initially employed by James and Sarah Kerr, English immigrant mattress makers and upholsters, Irish Famine orphan, Mary Carden [1832-1894] married, in 1851, at Melbourne, English transportee, Robert Heaton [1826-1888], sharing at least six children [1853-1874].

Beginning at Prahran, the couple ventured onto the central Victoria goldfields, settling, temporarily, in the Castlemaine area. Returning to the developing Melbourne suburb, Hawthorn, the couple was aged in their early 60s, upon their respective demise. Robert being employed as a brickmaker.

Marrying, on 13 July 1876, Priscilla Vivash, one of at least twelve Hawthorn born children of John Vivash and Caroline Pellett, John Heaton, first child of Mary Carden and Robert Heaton, provided eleven registered grandchildren.

Choosing to move from Hawthorn to Mordialloc, John Heaton and Priscilla Vivash, saw the third of their nine children, become Private John Edward Heaton 1647 of the 6th Battalion 3rd Reinforcement, upon the 4 August 1914 declaration of the First World War.

Perhaps not wishing to follow his father John into brickmaking, second son, John Edward Heaton [1881-1915], an excellent swimmer, perhaps perfected in the River Yarra at the western end of Grattan Street, Hawthorn, saved several persons from drowning. John Edward Heaton became a saw miller, venturing to Western Australia before residing at Mansfield, in Victoria’s north-east alpine country.

Following his 8 September 1914 Broadmeadows, Victoria, enlistment, the 32 years of age, 174.6 cm [5’8¾”], 72.6 kg [11 stone 6 pound], embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, aboard Transport A54 Runic on 19 February 1915.
Florid complexion, grey eyes, black haired, John Edward Heaton disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 3 April 1915, for further training.

Storming ashore the Gallipoli peninsula pre-dawn on 25 April 1915, 16,000 Australians and New Zealanders, together with British, French and Indian troops, climbed Plugge's [pronounced Pluggy’s] Plateau, their first major obstacle on the peninsula. Sliding down the slope until stopped by the scrubby bushes, the slain, as well as the wounded, moments before, dug their bayonets into the earth to assist in their ascent.

Atop the plateau, Turkish defenders maintained a steady machine-gun barrage from the left-hand edge of the plateau, attracting the attacking soldiers like moths to a flame. Reaching the summit, the Australians quickly overcame a trench full of Ottoman soldiers, before moving to the country beyond.

As the daylight increased, from the top of Plugge's Plateau, the Australians viewed, stretching southwards from the main Sari Bair range, the ridges, as well as deep valleys of a wild, rugged, scrub-covered landscape.

Failing to bring the ANZAC near their planned objectives, the day’s fighting witnessed small, isolated troops of soldiers making their way upslope towards Chunuk Bair and onto Third or Gun Ridge, only to be beaten back, or slain, by ever-strengthening counter-attacks.

Forming part of the reinforcements, on 3 May 1915, Private John Heaton, two days following, transported from ANZAC to the southern end of the Gallipoli Peninsula, to reinforce invading British Empire and French troops near Cape Helles in an attempt to capture the village of Krithia.

Sustaining, on 14 May 1915, a shoulder wound, John Heaton was admitted to the hospital ship Southland in the Dardanelles, before being admitted to the 17th General Hospital, Alexandria on 5 June 1915. Transferred to the Mustapha convalescent camp, John Heaton returned to Gallipoli on 4 July 1915.

Following the initial 25 April 1915 landing, Shrapnel Valley [or Shrapnel Gully], although always under heavy Turkish fire, became the main route for Allied troops, as well as essential supplies, between the beach and the frontline in the ANZAC sector. Falling shrapnel made a distinctive whistling before striking the area. It was during the battles in the early days of the campaign that the name for the gully was coined. Later, several wells were dug in the valley and camps and Field Artillery gun emplacements constructed in the lower end.

During the continuous, intense shelling of the area, 32 years of age, Private John Edward Heaton 1647 was shot by an enemy sniper. Laid to rest in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, in the former ANZAC sector of the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, John Heaton being one of 683 total burials, consisting of 56 New Zealand soldiers, together with 28 soldiers of British nationality, as well as 527 Australians.

Convening a 3 July 1917 Bazentin, France Court of Enquiry, for the purpose of enquiring into the whereabouts of No. 1647 Private J E Heaton 6th Australian Infantry Battalion, Captain Taylor, together with Lieutenant Gibson, as well as 2nd Lieutenant Tully, reviewed soldiers’ statements.

Regimental No. 77, 22 years of age, Private James Arthur Doxey, on enlistment, a 48 Grieve Street, St Kilda, residing labourer, remembered John Heaton in the trenches at Steeles Post, ANZAC, in the early part of July 1915. Although he did not witness John Heaton being killed, it was freely discussed, about the middle of July 1915, of John Heaton being sniped through the head by a Turkish sniper, whilst engaged in sniping the enemy, causing instant death. James Doxey, on 1 August 1916 awarded the Military Medal for his excellent services at Pozieres, France, returned to Australia on 27 September 1917.

Regimental No. 1617, 28 years of age, Private Thomas Metcalf, on enlistment, a farm hand, came over with John Heaton in 6th Battalion 3 Reinforcement, remembering him well. Neither seeing him killed nor his corpse, he was informed by the men in the trenches in July 1915, of him being sniped through the head and killed whist engaged sniping at the enemy.

Returning, on 11 December 1918, to Australia, Thomas Metcalf, on 26 May 1920, died, to be buried in the Brighton Cemetery [Portion Church 1603], Melbourne, Victoria.

Finding – “No. 1647 Private Heaton R.W., [rather than J.E. author], was killed whilst on duty in the trenches at Steeles Post during July 1915 his death being caused by an enemy sniper. The man was evidently well known and there is reason to believe that the circumstances of his death, which was discussed freely and in detail at the time, are other than those set down in the evidence.”
What the details, “other than those set down in the evidence”, of the death of John Edward Heaton comprised is not further elaborated upon in the AWM file available to the public. However, confusion appears as to the date of his death as 3 July 1915 is recorded. In the following notice of his father’s death, he is referred to as ‘Edward’.

At 62 Pakington Street, Kew, John, loving husband of Priscilla, and loving father of Arthur, Mrs. Harris, the late Edward, William, Mrs. Doe, Bertha, Harry, Mrs. Butler, brother of Mrs. Long, Robert and the late Mrs. Kling.