HEATH, Hugh


No.13360, Private, Hugh HEATH
Aged 21


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Wednesday 16th August 1916

Hugh Heath was born in Weston Colville (Linton Q4-1891 3B:515) son of Willam and Mary HEATH (née NEWMAN).

1901 census...Aged 6, he was at Lane Houses, Weston Colville with his father William HEATH (Jnr) [35] agricultural labourer; his mother Mary [30]; sister Lillian [8] and brother Franklyn [9]. All were born in Weston Colville.

1911 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was at 10 Willingham Green, Brinkley with his parents, brother Frank (farm labourer) and sister Ada Elizabeth [8], born Weston Colville.
Willingham Green, Brinkley comes within the parish of Carlton cum Willingham.

The family were still at Willingham Green on the pension card.

His brother Franklyn HEATH was killed just two months earlier, serving with the East Surrey Regiment. see here


He enlisted in Newmarket. "Soldiers Died" say he was formerly 5237 East Surrey Regiment, but that was his brother Franklyn's number and regiment

The battalion was in the line south west of Trones Wood, near Maltz Horn Farm. On the 16th they received orders to carry our an attack in co-operation with the French. Zero hour was at the unusual time of 17:30.After a heavy bombardment they moved forward on the heels of the barrage. On the right the attack was successful, about 250 yards of Cochrane Alley and a party of men of the German 124th regiment being captured. On the left however it was brought to a standstill by heavy machine gun fire and at night the battalion withdrew to its original line.
The cost of the operation was 38 killed.



photo courtesy Pam and Ken Linge


Hugh Heath is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial -pier and face 1C & 2A

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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