Main CPGW Record
Surname: HEYS
Forename(s): Robert Henry
Place of Birth: Bacup, Lancashire
Service No: 241677
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: East Lancashire Regiment
Battalion / Unit: 1/5th Battalion
Division: 42nd (East Lancashire) Division
Age: 40
Date of Death: 1917-04-28
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 C.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: BARNOLDSWICK, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Robert Henry Heys was the son of William James and Sarah Ann Heys, née Abbott. William was born at Bacup and Sarah at March, Cambridgeshire. Robert's brother, Private James Edward Heys, 15760, 11th (Service) Bn East Lancashire Regiment (Accrington), was killed in action, 26 June 1916.
1881 Walsden, Lancashire Census: 68, Little Knowl Terrace - Robert H. Heys, aged 4 years, born Bacup, Lancashire, son of William J. and Sarah A. Heys.
1891 Bacup, Lancashire Census: 70, Rochdale Road - Robert Henry Heys, aged 14 years, born Bacup, son of Wm Jas and Sarah Ann Heys.
1901 Bacup, Lancashire Census: Lord Street - Robert Hy Heys, aged 24 years, born Bacup, son of Wm James and Sarah Ann Heys.
Robert was married to Elizabeth Annie Throup in 1906. Elizabeth married Arthur Dickinson in 1919.
1911 Barnoldswick, Yorkshire Census: 6, Bank Street - R.H. Heys, aged 34 years, born Bacup, Lancashire, husband of E.A. Heys.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Robert H. Heys, 241677, E. Lan. R.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Robert Henry Heys, 241677, 1/5th East Lancs.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Robert Henry Heys, 241677, 1/5 Bn East Lancs. Date and Place of Death: 28.4.17 on or since death presd. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Elizabeth A. Dickinson. £8 16s. 6d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Robert. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Elizabeth Annie Heys, born 2.11.78. Address: 6, Bank Street, Barnoldswick, Yorks. Children: Elsie, born 27.7.08. Elizabeth Dickinson. Address: 12, Corporation Street, Bacup.
Robert is commemorated on a Bacup War Memorial (this is a wooden wall board in three sections).
A short biography of Robert is included in: ‘Barnoldswick – A small Town’s part in conflicts 1800 to 2014’ by Peter Ian Thompson (2014).
Photograph courtesy of Geoffrey Heys Hall, grandson of Pte. Robert H. Heys.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
HEYS, R.H., aged 23 years, East Lancs. Regt., 6, Bank Street, [Barnoldswick], reported missing April 28, 1917, now presumed dead.
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Private Robert Henry HEYS
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: East Lancashire Regiment
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 42nd (East Lancashire) Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Private Robert Henry Heys
Courtesy of Geoffrey Heys Hall, grandson of Pte. Robert H. Heys
Private Robert Henry Heys with his wife Elizabeth Annie and daughter Elsie
Courtesy of Geoffrey Heys Hall, grandson of Pte. Robert H. Heys
Private James Edward Heys, brother of Private Robert Henry Heys
'Burnley News' (5 July 1916)
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
15 March 1918
BARNOLDSWICK SOLDIER PRESUMED DEAD
The relatives of Private Robert Henry Heys, East Lancashire Regimen reported missing on April 28th, 1917, have been notified that he was killed in action on that date, He was 40 years of age and a native of Bacup, but had resided in Barnoldswick (at 6 Bank Street) for ten years prior to his voluntary enlistment in 1915. He served a short time in Egypt before going to France, where he had been only about ten weeks when he met his death in the first action in which he took part. He leaves a wife and one child now residing at Bacup. Private Heys was formerly a weaver at Messrs. Brown and Bailey’s Long Ing, and attended Bethesda Baptist Church.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
15 March 1918
HEYS – Missing since April 28th, 1917, now believed dead, Pte. R.H. Heys, of the East Lancaster Regiment, husband of Mrs. Heys, of 6, Bank Street, Barnoldswick, aged 40.
15 March 1918
HEYS – In loving memory of a dear husband and father, Pte. Robert Hy. Heys, who was killed in action, somewhere in France, April 28th, 1917.
Sleep on dear husband, and take thy rest,
For God takes those He loves the best;
On earth there’s strife, in Heaven rest,
They miss you most who loved you best.
He didn’t stop to reason when first the war began,
And went and did his duty like a soldier and a man;
But when the last reveille sounds, and when the battle’s won,
His Maker, Whom he’s gone to meet, will smile and say “Well done.”
– From his sorrowing Wife and Child.
HEYS – In loving remembrance of our dear son and brother, Pte. R.H. Heys, who was killed in action, somewhere in France, April 28th, 1917.
If we could have raised his dying head,
Or heard his last farewell,
The grief would not have been so hard
For those who loved him well.
– From Mrs. Throup (mother-in-law), Florrie and Harold.
HEYS – In loving memory of Pte. Robert Hy. Heys, East Lancashire Regiment, killed in action in France April 28th, 1917 (previously reported missing), aged 40 years, formerly of 6, Bank Street, Barnoldswick.
Too far away thy grave to see,
But not too far to think of thee.
– From Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and Lizzie, 6, Bank Street, Barnoldswick.
15 March 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Death Presumed
The relatives of Pte. Robert Henry Heys, East Lancashire Regiment, reported missing on April 28th, 1917, have been notified that he was killed in action on that date. He was 40 years of age and a native of Bacup, but had resided in Barnoldswick (at 6, Bank Street) for ten years, prior to his voluntary enlistment in 1915. He served a short time in Egypt before going to France, where he had been only about ten weeks when he met his death in the first action in which he took part. He leaves a wife and one child, now residing at Bacup. Pte. Heys was formerly a weaver at Messrs. Brown and Bailey’s, Long Ing, and attended Bethesda Baptist Church.
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