Elton Sydney HEEPS

Elton Sydney HEEPS Update Details

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HEEPS, Elton Sydney

Service Number:	3166
Enlisted:	13 July 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	60th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Brunswick, Victoria, Australia, 1892
Home Town:	Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Bus Conductor
Died:	Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	City of Brunswick Honour Roll, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial

World War 1 Service

13 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3166, Depot Battalion
29 Sep 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3166, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
29 Sep 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3166, 8th Infantry Battalion, RMS Osterley, Adelaide
19 Jul 1916:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3166, 60th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Killed in Action

Help us honour Elton Sydney Heeps's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

FROM PTE. E. S. HEEPS.
This letter was received by Mr J. Heeps (caretaker of. Brunswick Town Hall) from his son, Private E. S. Heeps, the day after he was reported missing:
"Dear Dad,-Just a line to let you know we are on the eve of a great battle. Our Division is to have the honor of being the first to make an advance here. We have about three miles to go forward. It is a matter of hours to when we will have out to and hop out among them, and then God help them! They will get a return, with interest, for their gas, etc. Harold will be in it, and I hope we get through; but some of us must go down, but if I do, I will be I hope doing my bit. We have been up in the trenches every day for the last week, and the last 72 hours we have been under heavy gun fire. I can tell you if a high explosive shell lands addressed "next door," you get a neighbor's share of it. Our company have been lucky, only one lad got hit; he got a bit of casing in the back of his neck, but will be right in a month or so. We got a new issue of gas helmets last night, and as long as every man puts it on quickly enough and fastens it properly, the Germ gas has no chance of getting us. I will be right, in the front and have a good view. I had a shave this morning, and as our gear has gone from us till we make another home, I think I will have quite a beard. There is no doubt about us capturing their trenches, but our hard job will be to hold, it, as we have counter-fattacks. But worst of all will be the German artillery, who will have the range of their own trenches to a T. Anyway, if we don't hold it, it will mean that - will have to get a new division, as there will be none of his old one left. I am glad you got the photos. What did you think of them? I was glad Harold and I got them. I had made an appointment with Clem that afternoon, but he didn't turn up. We were not allowed to bring cameras so l cannot send any more. I must close now and get on my rifle and bayonet, and get them fit.
God bless you and Elsie. Give my love to all.-Your loving son, Elton."

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