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Australia

Roderick Henry Heaney

Roderick Henry Heaney was born on the 29th December 1884 in Blinman, South Australia to George Harris Heaney and Cordelia Heaney (nee Hull).

Bugler Roderick Heaney, of the Port Germein Mounted Rifles, was a well-developed 15-year-old boy whose enthusiasm in matters military was tremendous.

So as to be present at drills at Port Germein he used to walk from Port Pirie to the residence of a Mr. DeDiar, a distance of 12 miles, to get his pony, and when drill was over, he would leave his steed on the return journey, and walk the 12 miles home again. Roderick was very proud of his ability as a bugler, having been repeatedly complimented by officers in Adelaide and elsewhere upon his proficiency.

The war in South Africa had greatly aroused the lad's military spirit and he asked to be allowed to accompany the Second Contingent to the front. Greatly to his disappointment he was informed that the authorities did not intend to take boys with them, and the offer of his services was therefore declined.

Roderick felt aggrieved at this decision because he had read in the papers the heroic exploits of a bugler with the Imperial troops whose age was only 14 years.

He became employed as a Clerk of the Court in Port Pirie and soon became accepted as a Bugler with 5th South Australian Contingent.

A social occasion was held at the Barrier Hotel in Port Pirie on the 7th February 1901 to send off Bugler Roderick Heaney and his father Major George Heaney who was sailing with the Fifth South Australian Imperial Bushmen in an administrative role. George, a patriot and crack shot, had 20 years good service on behalf of the South Australian Military Forces behind him and was instrumental in the formation of the Port Pirie Mounted Rifles and Infantry Company including Wandearah and Port Germein.

Bugler Heaney, who had to leave for Adelaide by the 10:40 train, responded to being toasted, and in doing so remarked…

“I do not know what I have done to deserve all the kind things that have been said about me. Volunteers had been called for, and I was only too willing to go to South Africa. It seemed to me that civilisation made very little difference to mankind; men seemed to be still only too anxious to get at the throats of one another.”

“It was not, however, in this spirit that I am going—it was to fight for King and Country (applause), but if I got a show I'd certainly have a pop at the Boers.”

Bugler Heaney then left to catch the train; an enthusiastic young soldier being accorded three hearty cheers by those present. Dr. Earle Page stated many years later that… “I remembered hearing the sound of the notes of his bugle as the train was pulling out of the bottom station. As we listened, the calls seemed to remind us that the Empire was at war. Little did we think then that some of us would live through two world wars.”

Bugler Heaney left for South Africa on the 9th February 1901 aboard the ‘Ormazon’. Upon arrival Roderick was attached to the Prince of Wales Light Horse with his father from April to November 1901 as trumpeter-major.

He also served as bugler with 'D' Squadron 2nd Australian Commonwealth Horses and the 5th South Australian Imperial Bushman which amalgamated with the Sixth South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

He served in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Colony, Bechuanaland and Natal including action in the defence of Graspan and the charge at Grootvlei.

He returned to Australia on the 27th April 1902 aboard the ‘Manchester Merchant’ and then returned to South Africa to live.

In 1913 following the creation of the Union of South Africa, Roderick joined the Cape Peninsula Rifles; a militia or volunteer 'Citizen Force' formed for the defence of South Africa.

Roderick died at age 54 on the 18th November 1940 in Dersley, Transvaal, South Africa leaving a widow and two children.

Sources:

Trove Australia

Australian War Memorial

Ancestry