1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
31/05/1889
Died:
30/09/1914 (Prisoner of War)
Age:
25
Summary
John Heaney was the eldest son of Robert and Sarah Heaney. He was born on 31st May 1889 in the Aughavey area of County Fermanagh into a large family. From the birth records, the family lived in Fivemiletown for a period of years between 1894 and 1898. The family then moved to Belfast. It seems John enlisted around 1907. Private John Heaney was serving with the 1st Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment when he was wounded and captured by the Germans. Private John Heaney died of wounds as a prisoner of war on Wednesday 30th September 1914.
Further Information
John Heaney was the eldest son of Robert and Sarah Heaney. Robert Heaney married Sarah Smith on 4th February 1887 in the district of Fermanagh.
John Heaney was born on 31st May 1889 in the Brookeborough / Aughavey area of County Fermanagh into a large family, with eleven of fifteen children surviving.
Family: Robert Heaney, Sarah Heaney, Maggie Heaney (born 12th November 1887), John Heaney (born 31st May 1889, Brookeborough), Annie Heaney (born 3rd January 1894, Fivemiletown), William Heaney (born 7th April 1896, Fivemiletown), Violet Heaney (born 24th August 1897, Fivemiletown), Florence Heaney (born 4th November 1898, Fivemiletown), Mabel Heaney (born 1st May 1900, Downpatrick?), Robert James Heaney (born 14th August 1902, Fivemiletown), Thomas Heaney (born 4th August 1905, Belfast), .Sarah Heaney (born 5th March 1910, Belfast).
From the birth records, the family lived in Fivemiletown for a period of years between 1894 and 1898.
The 1901 census lists John as age 11 living with the family at house 6 in Henryville Street, Ormeau, Belfast. His father was a quay labourer.
The 1911 census does not list John as living with the family at house 54 in Rathmore Street, Belfast.
It seems John enlisted around 1907, working from Army Service Numbers for the East Lancashire Regiment.
Private John Heaney arrived in France with the 1st Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment on 22nd August 1914.
Private John Heaney was serving with the 1st Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment when he was wounded.
Private John Heaney was captured by the Germans at the College de Garcons at Cambrai on 26th August.
Private John Heaney died of wounds as a prisoner of war on Wednesday 30th September 1914.
Newspaper reports suggest Private Heaney was wounded at Mons, and died shortly afterwards in the hands of the Germans at Cambrai.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 15th September 1915:
Mr Robert Heaney, 52 Rathmore Street, Belfast, has just received intimation that his son, Private John Heaney, 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, who was wounded at Mons, died shortly afterwards in the hands of the Germans at Cambrai. The deceased was a grandson of the late Mr John Smyth, of Fivemiletown, County Tyrone.
Private Heaney is buried in Porte-de-Paris Cemetery, Cambrai, Nord, France.
The CWGC record Private John Heaney as the son of Robert and Sarah Heaney of 22 Browne Street, Belfast.
