Arras Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Eric was born July 17th and baptised November 19th 1891 at Kendal, Westmorland, the eldest of 3 sons born to Gill Heatherington born April 12th 1863 at Troqueer, Kirkcudbright, Scotland and Mary Jane Dinsdale, known as Minnie, of Kendal, born 1864, whom he married at Kendal in 1889. By 1901 their family was complete with the arrival of Arnold, August 4th and baptised, August 18th 1893 and Keith, born January 3rd, baptised February 7th 1895. Supported by their father employed as a printer’s manager, his brother Ernest Heatherington (32), employed as a printer’s compositor was living with them at 13, Highfield Villas, Kendal. Eric was educated at Kendal Grammar School. The family had moved to The Avenue, Birtley, by 1911 where Gill was employed as a coal and colliery stores inspector, son Arnold (17) was a mining student, Keith (16) an engineering student. Eric was living at 9, Westbourne Grove, Ripon, Yorkshire, a boarding house run by 50-year-old Eleanor Walker assisted by her sister Mary Walker aged 53, Eric worked for Messrs R. Kearsearsley and Co a varnish manufacturer as an accountant’s clerk.
Eric enlisted in 1914 at Kendal as Private 14349, assigned to the 8th (Service) Battalion Border Regiment, part of Kitchener’s Third New Army. The battalion was attached to the 75th Brigade, 25th Division training at Codford billeted in Boscombe, near Salisbury Plain. They moved to Romsey in May 1915 then on to Aldershot for final training in June. During training having reached the rank of Corporal, he departed with the 25th Division to France September 25th 1915 landing at Boulogne. They concentrated near Nieppe and first saw front line action at Vimy Ridge, April 9th-12th 1916 before moving to the Somme in late June. They participated at the opening battle at Albert. The 75th Brigade suffered heavy losses July 3rd near Martinsart and mid-July at Ovillers. Between July 23rd and August 1916 they held the line in the Ancre sector and by late September and October saw action during the Battle of Ancre Heights. Battle concluded, they moved to Belgium taking over the Ploegsteert sector on the Ypres salient where they remained until spring 1917. During 1916 Corporal Heatherington had risen to the rank of Sergeant and was offered a commission November 16th 1916. He transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Brigade, 7th Division and had risen to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant within 6 months. With the 7th Division he would have participated during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line then transferred to the Arras sector during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 15th 1917, where the division fought in the flanking operations around Bullecourt.
2nd Lieutenant Eric Heatherington is deemed to have been killed in action on or since May 4th 1917, his sacrifice is recorded on the Arras Memorial.
His father Gill Heatherington, a gas works manager of Ouston Villa, Pelton, received as his executor, all monies owed to him by the Army, and probate October 6th 1917 in the sum of 251 pounds 8 shillings 1 pence.
Awards: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal.
Eric’s brother Arnold married at Kendal Westmorland in 1920, Mabel W. Livingstone and died aged 82 years, October 5th 1975 at Leominster, Herefordshire. Keith Heatherington left his employment as a draughtsman and enlisted April 23rd 1918 assigned to the Royal Air Force service number 161746 as an Aero Rigger. He joined the 37th Training Depot Station,13th Training Group Midland North Shotwick, May 9th 1918 and transferred to the R.A.F. Reserve, January 26th 1919. He married Bessie Hadwin in 1922 at Kendal, Westmorland where he died aged 56 years, March 3rd 1951.
Mary Jane (Minnie) Heatherington nee Dinsdale died September 28th 1925 in the district of Chester-le-Street, aged 61 years. Her husband Gill Heatherington of Redlands, Marley Hill, died aged 72 years, October 19th 1936. Both are buried at Pelton Cemetery. Probate in the sum of 634 pounds 2 shillings 6 pence was left to Arnold Heatherington, colliery manager, by his father, November 19th 1936.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Eric Heatherington is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01 and at Pelton on P26.01 as Eric Hetherington.
