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Service Profile
- Branch
- British Army
- Rank
- Sergeant
- Service Era
- Second Boer War, World War I
- Medals Recorded
- 7
Awards & Decorations
- Victoria Cross
- Queen's South Africa Medal
- Defence of Ladysmith
- Laing's Nek
- Belfast
- King's South Africa Medal
- South Africa 1901
- South Africa 1902
- 1914-15 Star
- British War Medal 1914–1920
- Victory Medal (United Kingdom)
- King George VI Coronation Medal 1937
Ribbon Rack
Biography
He bore the message through fire to save his surrounded unit
William Edward Heaton was born at Ormskirk in 1875 and worked as a collier. After volunteer service he joined the King’s Regiment in 1896 and went to South Africa.
On 23 August 1900 at Geluk, his company advanced beyond the main line and became surrounded. He volunteered to carry a message back through enemy fire. His successful journey helped avert the company’s surrender and brought the Victoria Cross, presented at Pietermaritzburg in August 1901.
Heaton returned to Britain as a sergeant and left regular service in 1903. He worked as a bank caretaker and commissionaire, married and had two daughters. Rejoining the King’s Liverpool Regiment, he reached France in February 1915 and served until invalided out. Later employed by building contractors and Southport Corporation, he died at Southport on 5 June 1941 and was buried at Ormskirk.
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