CHARLES WILLIAM HEALD (M S M)

The Weavreham St. Mary's “Roll of Honour” records two Lads named Heald; E. (Ernest) Heald; (Is E. Heald, Alfred Ernest?) H. (Herbert) Heald;

Charles W. Heald; “Fallen” is not listed on the “Roll of Honour” or the main “Fallen” memorial but is included with the C.W.C.G. and is buried at St. Mary’s Weaverham.

C.W.C.G. remember C. W. Heald (2nd Cpl.) at St. Mary’s Weaverham, he died 5th January 1921 aged 36. He was with the Royal Engineers, Regimental No 16797, MSM (Meritorious Service Medal). Son of Alfred and Agnes Heald; husband of Edith Mary Heald (Freebmd - Married 1912 Edith M. Hignett, Northwich, Cheshirebmd records St. Mary’s Weaverham.) of 6 West Road, Weaverham. Inscription, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.”

Herbert, Alfred Ernest and Charles W.

The 1901 census has the Heald family living at “One Ash” on Sandy lane, Weaverham. Alfred Head, age 47, Relieving Officer & Registrar (Births & Deaths), born Northwich; Agnes Wife, age 44, Cambridge; The children, Emma Daughter, age 17, Northwich; Elsie Daughter, age 14, Northwich; Herbert Son, age 12, Northwich; Lillian A. Daughter, age 9, (Middlewich) Northwich; Alfred E. Son, age 8, (Middlewich) Northwich; Dorothy M. Daughter, age 2, Weaverham. Charles was not with his family in 1901 but is included in the 1891 census when the family lived on Wheelock St. Northwich. (Charles was then aged 6)

Cheshirebmd records the marriage of Charles W. Heald and Edith M. Hignett at St. Mary’s Weaverham, in 1912.

Charles (2nd Cpl.)

Northwich Guardian article 8th Oct. 1915 P5/C7; WEAVERHAM’S SPLENDID RESPONSE.

It is stated in the Weaverham Parish Magazine that 2nd Corporal C. W. Heald, R.E. has written to the vicar, expressing gratification at the response made by Weaverham lads to the Countries call. The sight of ruined homes, churches levelled to the ground and the plain wooden crosses all over the country, with the simple inscriptions “An unknown soldier killed in action.” Brought home what it would mean if the houses where in England and the owners our dear ones. He hears his brothers have been home but considered himself the best off as his turn is yet to come and he has had no leave since the war began.

Northwich Guardian article 8th June. 1917 P5/C1; MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES. WEAVERHAM ENGINEER’S DISTINCTION.

Corporal Charles William Heald, son of Mr. Alfred Heald, the registrar for Weaverham, who is attached to the Royal Engineers at headquarters, has been mentioned in Sir Douglas Haigh’s dispatch for distinguished service during the war. Corporal Heald was for some years assistant to Mr. E. T. Ward, surveyor, Northwich, and afterwards joined the Royal Engineers, being in reserve and holding a government appointment when war broke out.

Some Service Records are available for Charles, he enlisted in 1907 for three years service and 9 years in reserve. Charles was 5ft 5.5in, weight 120lbs and had a girth of 35in, with a fresh complexion, eyes brown and brown hair, he was 22yrs 8m, his calling was Surveyor/Draughtsmen. Charles was posted with the Royal Engineers, Regiment No 16797, Rank Sapper. His three years service ended on the 27th Dec. 1910 with the report he was a very good solider, with no offences in the whole of his service of 5years 2months with the duties of Ordnance Survey, there would be annual review/training transferring to Reserve on the 23rd Dec. 1912, the document signed by Charles Heald witnessed by Alfred Heald.

It looks like Charles rejoined on the 14th Sept. 1914, finally being demobbed in July 1919. The service documents acknowledge he is deceased, his widow Edith May Heald, they had no children. Father was Alfred Heald of “One Ash” Weaverham and the document states brothers Herbert aged 34 at Ormskirk, Alfred aged 30 at ??? and two sisters Emma (38) and Elsie (36) living with father.

N.A.M.C. - have 4 cards for Charles, all with the Royal Engineers and with the Regimental No 16797, 1st card Sapper / Acting Corporal; 2nd card Sapper; 3rd card Corporal; 4th card Corporal 2nd. Theatre of War was France, Date of Entry was 15th Sept. 1914. Charles was awarded the British, Victory and 14 Star medals. (Registered Paper for MSM 137/5358 [229889])

4880 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 18 MAY, 1917,

Heald, No. 16797 Spr. (actg. 2nd Corpl.) C.W.

982 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 18 JANUARY, 1919,

War Office,18th January, 1919.His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to the following Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men,in recognition of valuable service rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders: —

ROYAL ENGINEERS; 16797 2nd Cpl. Heald, C. W;, 5th Fd. Coy.([E] Chester)

Northwich Guardian article 31st Jan. 1919 P7/C4; WEAVERHAM. - DISTINCTION FOR WEAVERHAM SOLIDER. CORPORAL HEALD AWARDED MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL .

The many friends of Mr. Alfred Heald, of the One Ash, Weaverham, the reliving officers for the Weaverham District, will be interested to learn that his son, Corporal C.W. Heald, of the Royal Engineers, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for work done in France and Flanders. This is the second distinction which Corporal Heald has gained in the war, some twelve months ago his name appeared in the list of New Year awards for distinguished service referred to in Sir Douglas Haig’s dispatches.

Corporal Heald is 34 years of age, and married, was called up as a Reservist immediately on the outbreak of war, and he has been in France almost from the commencement of hostilities. He holds a responsible position in the Royal Engineers, as chief draughtsman to the 5th Division. Prior to the war, Corporal Heald was agricultural surveyor and valuer under the Land Act for the County of Warwick.

 

Northwich Guardian article 14th Jan. 1921 P5/C3; DISTRICT NEWS, WEAVERHAM - FUNERAL OF MR. C. W. HEALD.

The village was in mourning on Saturday afternoon on the occasion of the funeral of the late Mr. Charles William Heald, son of Mr. and Mrs Alfred Heald of One Ash, Weaverham. Blinds were drawn at almost every house and the flag floated at half-mast from the church tower. Mr. Heald who was 35 years of age served with the Royal Engineers in the war, with distinction, being twice mentioned in dispatches and later being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for land surveying under fire and valuable inventions in regard to anti-aircraft guns. Unfortunately the exposure to severe weather whilst on active service impaired his health and for some months he was in a military hospital in France suffering from pneumonia and pleurisy. As a youth he was trained as a surveyor by Mr. E. T. Ward (Edward Thompson Ward born 1863 Northwich) at Northwich and gave promise of a successful future. On leaving the Army he obtained a position on the Staff of the Land Valuation Department and took up residence at Coventry. About six weeks ago it was discovered that he had developed consumption (TB) doubtless due to his Army experience – and was admitted to the Bramcote Sanatorium at Nuneaton. Here he appeared to make excellent progress but he had sudden relapse and the news of his death came as a painful surprise in the village where his parents are held in such high esteem and where he was so well known and popular.

The funeral was of a semi-military character, being attended by members of the local branches of the Comrades of the Great War, eight of whom acted as bearers. The mourners where Mrs C. W. Heald (widow), Mr. and Mrs Alfred Heald (father and mother), Masters Herbert and Alfred Ernest (sons), Nurse Emma Heald (sister), (Emma Heald is not in the V.A.D. records or St. Mary’s “Roll of Honour.”) Mr. and Mrs William Hignett (father-in-law and mother-in-law), Messrs Percy Hignett, Arthur Hignett, Clifford Higgnet and Arthur Davies (brothers-in-law), Mr. and Mrs E. P. Williams (uncle and aunt), Mr. E. T. Ward and Mr. T. Gammond.

……...……….the congregation included Messrs W. Gerrard, J.J. Harper, Arthur Ellison, T. Rowe, Percy Clarke………………..the Last Post was sounded

Research Bob Heaton