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Private Robert Heathwood

 

Heathwood

 

Private Robert Heathwood, 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Service Nos 1135 (NIH), 41285 (RIF). Born Shankill, Belfast, enlisted Belfast. Killed in action on 3 November 1917, south-west of Cambrai. As he has no known grave, Private Heathwood is commemorated on Pier and Face 15.A, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

The Battalion diary on 3 November 1917 states:

Ruyaulcourt. A & B Companies on working parties today. At 4.30pm C Company left Ruyaulcourt and marched up to the line to carry out a raid. The enemy's front line was successfully penetrated from the Canal (K.26.d.05.95) to about 150 yards east of it. The fighting was very severe as the enemy refused to surrender. Our men stayed in the enemy trenches for twenty minutes and bayonetted and shot at least forty Germans. We suffered some
12 casualties, mostly from bombs: one Officer severely wounded, one Officer slightly wounded; one NCO killed, three Other Ranks missing believed killed, thirteen Other Ranks wounded, one R.E [Royal Engineer?] (NCO) severely wounded.

Images Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. Information and memorial plan sourced from Commonwealth War Graves Commission www.cwgc.org.