William George Heys T.D.

Rank:Lt. Colonel
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:08th Bn
Name of Rgt or Ship:Manchester Rgt
Died:04/06/1915Age:48
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:GallipoliGrave Photo:No
Cemetery or Memorial:Lancashire Landing Ground, Helles
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born during the March quarter 1867 in the Camberwell R.D. - ref: 1d/612,
the son of William E & Mary Heys.

1871 Census - 14 Walmer Place, Gorton, Manchester.    Son - aged: 4 - born:
Peckham, Surrey.   Head of household - William E. Heys - Married - aged: 29
- occ: Accountant - born: St. Austell, Cornwall.  also Mary Heys - Wife -
aged: 26 - born: Chelsea, Middlesex.  Plus 3 sisters.

1881 Census - 8 Walmer Place, Gorton, Manchester.    Son - aged: 14 -
Scholar - born: Peckham, Surrey.    Head of household - William E. Heys -
Married - aged: 39 - occ: Editor of Design & Work Mechanics & Electricity -
born: St. Austell, Cornwall.  also Mary Heys - Wife - aged: 36 - born:
Chelsea, Middlesex.  Plus 6 siblings.

1891 Census - 55 Shakespeare Street, Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.   Son
- aged: 24 - occ: Consulting Engineers Assistant - born: Peckham, Surrey.  
Head of household - William E. Heys - Married - aged: 49 - occ: Consulting
Engineer & Patent Agent - born: St. Austell, Cornwall.  also Mary Heys -
Wife - aged: 46 - born: Chelsea, Middlesex.  Plus 5 siblings and 1 domestic
servant.

In 1891, his wife to be - Marion Blain, was residing with her widowed
mother at 23 Cranworth Street, Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.  Then a 21
year old Telegraphist.

Married Marion Blain during the September quarter 1892 in the Chorlton R.D.
- ref: 8c/1210.

1901 Census - No Trace.  Perhaps serving in South Africa ???   His wife -
Marion Heys was residing at 1 Boscombe Road, Blackpool at the time.   Head
- Married - aged: 30 - occ: Living on own means - born: Manchester.   Plus
two sons, her sister in law and 2 domestic servants.

1911 Census - 2 Osborne Road, Blackpool, Lancashire.   Head of household -
Married - aged: 44 - occ: Chartered Patent Agent - born: Peckham Rye,
Surrey.   Also Marion Heys - Wife - aged: 41 - born: Manchester.   Plus 2
sons and 2 domestic servants.

Taken verbatim from the Masonic website -
https://www.masonicgreatwarproject.org.uk/legend.php?id=1440

William was Commissioned into the Ardwick Battalion 23 August 1890 As
Captain, commanded the 2nd Volunteer Service Company in the Boer War,
serving with 1st Manchester. By profession a consulting engineer. He lived
in Chorlton-cum-Hardy and later at 15 Crescent Road, Hale, Altrincham. On
the outbreak of war he took the Ardwicks to Egypt and was in command when
they took part in the annexing of Cyprus. After returning to Egypt he took
the battalion to Gallipoli where on 4 June 1915, due to the wounds received
by Brigadier Noel Lee, he was placed in command of the Brigade. Whilst
inspecting a captured Turkish trench he was killed, age 48. Buried
Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Gallipoli. Plot A29. Sources; Robert Bonner ?
The Manchester Regiment Group Forum 3rd Battle of Krythia On the 29th
Division?s right, the 42nd Division attacked with the four Manchester
Regiment battalions of the 127th Brigade in the first wave with two
battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers following the attacking waves. Here
the attack opened well and within five minutes the Turkish first line had
been captured. The whole of the division?s objective was soon taken, except
on the extreme left (next to the 29th Division) where the wire in front was
uncut. For the first hour everything went well. The 127th Brigade advanced
about 1000 yards and over 200 prisoners were taken. The Official History
states that: the Turks were on the run. Hunter-Weston now issued orders to
consolidate the ground gained. The 42nd Division as far as was known was
still in a good position, although the 127th Brigade commander, Brigadier-
General Lee, had by now been mortally wounded in the throat by a shell and
his successor, Lt.-Col. Heys had been killed outright4. It was unfortunate
that at about 16.00 the Turkish reserves had came into action and soon
after Hunter-Weston?s order to consolidate, word reached corps HQ that the
127th Brigade was now being hard-pressed. From this point on the situation
grew steadily worse. At 18.00 the Brigade was being attacked from three
sides and the leading troops? withdrawal was eventually approved by
Hunter-Weston. A company of the 1/6 Manchesters however was unable to
comply and was practically wiped out. By nightfall the greater part of the
ground captured during the attack had been given up. Of 16,000 officers and
men engaged, the British had lost 4,500. Br.-Gen. Lee was subsequently
evacuated to Malta where he died from haemorrhage due to the reopening of
his wounds. He is buried in Pieta Military Cemetery. See Frank Davies &
Graham Maddocks, Bloody Red Tabs: General Officer Casualties of the Great
War, 1914- 1918, (Leo Cooper, London, 1995) pp81-2.

CWGC - Husband of Marion Heys of 15 Crescent Road, Hale, Altrincham.

Commemorated on the Athenaeum Club Memorial, now displayed in the
Manchester Reform Club building.  He is listed as "HEYES" which is
incorrect.


Memorials found on:
St. John's (Altrincham)
Manchester Athenaeum Club
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