Military History

Heritage enlisted in Queensland. As part of his training he was transferred to Campbellfield, Vic. in April 1916. 
Embarked per HMAT 'Wandilla' A62 from Melbourne for England 6.6.1916
Roll Rank Sergeant
Roll Unit 3rd Pioneers
Heriitage disembarked at Plymouth with the 3rd Pioneers 6.6.1916. He marched into training camp and underwent a period of intensive training before embarking at Southampton for France 24.11.1916. The Pioneers disembarked in France and marched in to Havre. They were then sent to the 'nursery sector' at Armentieres for training in trench warfare. Heritage was taken on strength with his Bn. in December 1916. He became ill with the mumps and was transferred to the Canadian Casualty Clearing Station 21.1.1917 and then transferred to the 7th General Hospital at St. Omer. Heritage was discharged back to Base Details 11.2.1917 and rejoined his unit 15.2.1917. The first major engagement for the 3rd Pioneers was at Messines in June 1917, where they were assigned to various companies for road and trench digging and laying pipes etc. and maintaining this infrastructure during the battle. He was admitted to the Field Ambulance Hospital with laryngitis 31.10.1917. He rejoined his Unit 4.11.1917. Heritage fought in the Third Battle of Ypres, around Broodseinde Ridge, in late October. He acted with great courage in the filed and was subsquently awarded a Military Medal for his actions. .the consequences for him were that he suffered sh.ll shock and trauma  (described as a debility) 9.11.1917 and was admitted to the 10th Stationary Hospital, then transferred by Hospital Ship 'Princess Elizabeth' to England as an invalid 17.11.1917. He was admitted to Aldershot Hospital 18.11.1917. As he recovered, he was transferred to the Auxilliary Hospital at  Dartford 28.11.1917. Heritage was transferred to the No.12 Command Depot at Weymouth, then was listed for return to Australia for 'a change'.
Embarked per HS 'Balmoral Castle'.
Returned/disembarked 25.2.1918
Discharged 3.5.1918
Final Rank Private 3rd Pioneer Bn 2nd Army Corps
Medical Condition Invalided  with Shell shock
Awards and Medals Military Medal,  Britiah War Medal, Victory Medal
Recommendation citation for Military Medal 24.7.1917
On the night of the 26th-27th June at La Petite Douve Farm, when an ememy barrage was dropped on this particular spot, two of his officers were killed. No.796 Sgt Thomas Walter Heritage, gathered a party of men together and although it was dark and under exceedingly heavy shell fire, succeeded in getting the wounded and receiving them to the  Dressing Station. His coolness under very trying circumstances was a fine example for his men.
(Recommendation in the London Gazette 30498, 21.8.1918)
Notes Heritage married, enlisted and fought under the alias-Heritage. His brother Aleck Jecks also fought in WW1 (SN 4632). Newspaper records show he had a difficult time  working and living with his  war trauma.(Telegraph Brisbane 1932) Heritage died in Queensland on 27.3.1947 and was buried at the Nanango Cemetery.
Photos HMAT 'Wandilla' in Brisbane 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H02242
             Australian Soldiers travelling to Messines Ridge June 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00475
             Soldiers in a shelter, Broodseinde Ridge October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01051
             T W Heritage . Bravery on Field. Daily Mail Brisbane 22.7.1918 p7
             3rd Auxilliary Hospital Dartford. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C05043

Information source
AWM H02242. HMAT 'Wandilla' in Brisbane 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00475. Australian Soldiers travelling to Messines Ridge June 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01051. Soldiers in a shelter, Broodseinde Ridge October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM C05043. 3rd Auxilliary Hospital Dartford. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Daily Mail Brisbane
NAA:2455, Heritage T W
Telegraph Brisbane

Associated Images