William
Heaton (2nd January 1875 to 5th June 1941)
On a sunny
Saturday morning on the way to the sand dunes at Southport I called at Ormskirk
Parish Church. It was splat in the centre of town - a pretty church in a pretty
town. I’d never visited Ormskirk before and I’m 27 years old.
I parked where the vicar probably parks and guessed I’d be 15 minutes.
I walked down to the graveyard at the rear of the church (avoiding the open
door - there’s usually coffee mornings on the go on Saturday mornings with the
obligatory begging bowl and white-haired widows.) Mmmm...medium
sized cemetery. All I had was a photo of a priest stood by the headstone of
William Heaton and I soon spotted it even though it was bare of the usual red
wreath.
On 23rd August 1900 25-year-old William and his troops were
fighting in Africa in the Second Boer War. They were advancing ahead of the
general line of troops. Suddenly they were surrounded by gunfire and many were
killed on the spot. Blood mixed with dust. When the bloody onslaught worsened
the Commanding Officer requested someone volunteer to get a message back to the
main hub of troops. William volunteered to what would be a probably death but
numerous bullets. With slim chance of surviving William somehow got the message
back and help was summoned. Many men
were saved rather than dead in the dirt.
Two women were chatting nearby when I took these photos of me saluting
and gently rubbing the “VC”. I had waited for them to go but they seemed to be
talking their mouths dry. Their mouths got a little dryer as they remained open
while they watched me do some salutes over the headstone. William had completed
a circle. He’d been baptised in this church, went across the world to fight (he
rose to sergeant when fighting in World War One) and is now under the church’s
soil.
Not much is known about this brave dude’s life after the wars but he
died at his home in Southport aged 66. He’s buried here with his wife. Wonder
who leaves the flowers? The neighbouring grave bore more vivid bunches.
Looking….
Found
it….pointing ta the photo I had…
Blimey…didn’t
know John Craven had died…
