Wednesday 10 June 2015

Heys, John George - Private (80343)

(No soldier photo available)
Labour Corps, The King's Liverpool Regiment)
Killed in Action,
21st march 1918,
Age 39,
Buried Minty Farm Cemetery.

Newspaper Report:

HASLINGDEN WEAVER KILLED IN ACTION:

Mrs. Heys, of 1, Queen Street, Haslingden, has received a letter from an officer announcing that her husband, Pte. John G. Heys (39), was killed in action on the afternoon of March 21. Death which was from a shell, being instantaneous.  Private Heys was previous to joining up, in March of last year, a weaver at Commercial Mill, and is on the Haslingden Parish Church roll of honour.  Being in a Labour Battalion, he went to France in April, 1917.  He was wounded on November 11th.  The second-lieut., who is the writer of the letter to the wife, says he was with deceased's platoon officer at the time when deceased was killed.  Shells were bursting all round.  When volunteers were called for to remove the body for burial every man stepped out.  The writer says that personally he feels the loss cruelly.  Pte. Heys was loved by all in his platoon.  He was a good soldier, and ever ready to face danger.  He had done his duty nobly, and had died as all heroes would like to die, with his face to the enemy.  The body has been properly buried.