Home  |   The Great War  |   Second World War  |   Other Conflicts  |   Useful Links  |   Contact Us

 

Lieutenant Frederick James HEASMAN (102311) MC
222nd Searchlight Training Unit, Royal Artillery Date of birth: 30th July 1892 Date of death: 4th June 1940 Died aged 47 Buried at Mount Noddy East Grinstead Section 1 Grave 33
Frederick James Heasman was born at East Grinstead, Sussex on the 30th of July 1892 the younger son of Henry Heasman, a gentleman, and Eliza Dinah (nee Payne) Heasman of Southwick House, London Road, East Grinstead in Sussex. He was educated at Lancing College where he was in Seconds House from January 1907 to December 1908. He went on to Ceylon and, in 1914, he enlisted as Private 2248 in the Ceylon Planters Rifles. He landed with them in Egypt on the 17th of November 1914. In 1915 he was commissioned into the 1/56th Punjabi Regiment, Frontier Force, Indian Army and, on the 6th of November 1915, he transferred to the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards (Special Reserve) with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 26th of January 1916 and joined the Battalion in the field on the 14th of April 1916 where. He was posted to No. 4 Company. By April 1917 he was commanding the company. In January 1918 he was Battalion Transport Officer, a position he served in until the end of the war. He was promoted to Acting Captain on the 18th of April 1918 and was awarded the Military Cross in the King’s Birthday Honours List of the 3rd of June 1918. He relinquished the rank of Acting Captain on the 18th of April 1919 and was mentioned in despatches. After the war he lived at Gresham House, Effingham Road, Copthorne Road, Surrey. Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War he wrote to the War Office in a letter which was received there on the 30th of June 1939: - "Sir, I wish to offer my services in the event of war. During the last war I served with the Grenadier Guards and finished with the rank of Captain and received the M.C. I am not in the reserve and don't wish to join the Guards owing to expense. I am 44 years of age and have perfect health and single. I understand horses and am ready to serve wherever I am wanted." I remain, Sir, yours faithfully F.J. Heasman He received a reply from the War Office, dated the 29th of July 1939, instructing him to attend a medical examination at the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital Milbank on the 3rd of August. At the examination it was recorded that he was five feet ten and a half inches tall and that he weighed 133lbs. He was passed as being fit for general duties. He attended an interview on the same day at Room 12, Thames House, Millbank. He was granted a short service commission in the Royal Artillery with the rank of Lieutenant on the 2nd of September 1939 and was posted to the 222nd Searchlight Training Unit on the 7th of September. He joined them at their base at Taunton on the 9th. The following year he was taken ill with cerebrospinal meningitis and died at Stoke Military Hospital, Southport. His funeral was held at St Mary's Church, East Grinstead on the 7th of June 1940. He is commemorated on the East Grinstead war memorial and on the memorial at St Swithun's Church, East Grinstead. His brother, Lieutenant George Henry Heasman OL 6 Training Squadron Royal Flying Corps, was killed on active service on the 20th of January 1918.

Seconds House