Essendon Gazette 27 May 1915

Mr. H. L. Heron has received a cable message from his son, Lieutenant W.
L. Heron, who was wounded in action at the Dardanelles and subsequently
returned to the front, stating that he has again been wounded, and has been
obliged to return to Alexandria for medical attention.

SAVED BY CIGARETTE CASE

After a narrow escape at Gaba Tepe Lieutenant W L Heron, one of the platoon commanders of the 7th (Vic )  Battalion, was not quite so lucky. At Cape Helles, in the early stages of the fighting a shrapnel shell burst above the unit to which this young officer was attached, and he was seen to fall, with two nasty cuts on the head. Word went round that he was dead. Over a week later however, when the 7th Battalion was detailed for operations at another point, he appeared amongst his old comrades once more as well as ever.   It was learned then that he had been only stunned, and waking up to discover that he was surrounded by dead men, Lieutenant Heron had made his way back to where his wounds could be attended to. In the next fight his luck continued to be good for some time, three bullets passing through his hat without doing any serious damage, but the fourth flicked him in the eye with the result that he has not been able to rejoin his unit since.

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

H. B. LEWERS, who was wounded on Gallipoli, writing from Concentration Camp,  Australian and New Zealand Base Depot, Weymouth, on August 6, [1915] says : "I have just seen the 'Australasian,' and was very pleased to see how easily the School led in number of enlisted Old Boys. This is a concentration camp here (Weymouth), where we come when fairly fit, and there are some Public School boys here (officers) from all the States. I brought the figures under the notice of a Scotch and a St. Peter's boy. Why should the enlisting be better in Victoria than N.S.W.? My arm is fairly well; it was successfully broken by a piece of shrapnel, which cracked it for about 4 inches. I can do most things except play tennis, lift weights, or turn stiff door handles. I am going back to Gallipoli in two days' time. I have seen many O.M.'s-NED HERRING, NEVILLE FRASER, BILL RONALD-ALLEN LEEPER and myself spent two days with Mr. E. I. Robson, in Essex . In fact, the O.M.'s here are too numerous to mention individually. I have seen HERON, 'BIRDIE,' I think. He got smacked with shrapnel in the back of the head, and has lost one eye. His other eye is weak. He is walking about and keen to go back, but of course never will. He is very plucky about it, poor chap.

Letters from O.M.s, p 136.

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

" W. L. HERON got hit by a piece of shrapnel on the head at the Landing. All Old Melburnians will be delighted to hear how he has developed into a magnificent soldier. He has become a splendid officer; cool, very plucky, and popular with everyone. When down at Suez he swam across the Canal almost before the Turks had gone, to reconnoitre and collect souvenirs".

Letters from OMs, p 126, 1915

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

E. W. AUSTIN writes thus from St. John's Wood Barracks, St. John's Wood, London, on October 20: " I reached England on Monday, September 26. The trip across France was  very interesting, but we had the bad luck to miss all of it from Marseilles to Paris, as we went through that part at night. When we got near the line, as we did at Amiens (about 20 miles) we passed trains of wounded; and also a train of German prisoners ; about 1,000 of  them, I should think. I have seen a few O.M.'s in England. I was waiting to see the chief man here who looks after Australians, when I saw DUM NORRIS, who was captain of the football team a few years back. I also saw `BIRDIE' HERON one night last week at the theatre. He got rather a bad doing, poor chap. He has lost his right eye and a good bit of his face, but is very cheerful, and has now gone back to the Dardanelles.

Letters from O.M.s, p 139.

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

JACK WISCHER, who has a commission in the 14th New Heavy Battery, R.G.A., writing from France, says: " What an age it seems since I was last at the dear old School. I suppose a number of fellows have left school this year to join the forces. From what I can gather from the remarks of the wounded, the Dardanelles seems to be a `living hell,' and I can quite believe it. Before I came over to France I saw poor old REG. COX. He had a terrible time; he has not recovered even yet. I met W. L. HERON in Piccadilly about the same time. His eye was better, but absolutely useless. With the use of only one eye, he wants to return to the firing line, but I am afraid the authorities would not allow it.

Letters from OMs, p 141 [1915]

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

W. L. HERON writes a long letter, heading it 7th Batt., 2nd Inf. Brigade, A.I.F.," under date August 2 [1915]. He says : " Thank you all ever so much for your kind and thoughtful inquiries ,after me. You have no idea how much I appreciated it. I have had a pretty rough time, and -it 'bucked' me up tremendously. It is very nice to think that my late masters think kindly of me, and send kind messages. I also send my condolences to you in the great loss you have all sustained in the death of Captain W. R. HOGGART. I saw a cutting from `The Argus' re our contribution to the Army and Navy in this struggle, and am awfully glad that the 'Old Dark Blue' more than holds her own 'in numbers.' I am certain she will also hold her own 'in results.' Captain Mick Ryan (Xavier) has told me of an excellent example of the 'Public School spirit,' which I am sure would interest all old Public School boys. On the first day on Gallipoli he was badly hit in several places. He was quite helpless, and on his own. Sergeant Dickenson (Wesley's stroke a few years back) passed him. They did not know one another, but Dicky recognised Mick as an old Public School athlete, and called out to some of his fellows that there was an old Public School fellow badly wounded, and that they must see him through. A Scotch and Grammar School fellow came up (Mick did not know their names), and at terrible risk they managed to get Mick back. Anyone who is acquainted with him will realise that it was no easy job, with bullets and shells buzzing round, as Mick Ryan is a very hefty and big fellow. I am glad to see that Dicky has since got his commission. You might be interested to know how I got on. On April 25th I was hit, while landing at Gaba Tepe, with three pieces of shrapnel in the back of the head. The doctor was thoughtful enough to inform me that my hard head saved me. All kinds of rumours went round regarding my fate, but they were exaggerated. Fellows were very surprised to see me at Alexandria, as I had been officially reported dead there, and I had great trouble in assuring them that I was still going strong. I then had a few days' spell, and returned to Gaba Tepe; but our brigade (2nd) was immediately transferred in trawlers at dead of night to Cape Helles, where we had another exciting landing. On May 8th we indulged in that charge under the guns and trenches of Achi Baba, and were terribly cut up, but held on. It was here that poor HERB. HUNTER (O.M.) and Jack Newham (Wesley) were killed. I received a bullet through the eye here, and after a slow, tedious and exciting passage (for the snipers were having a go at me all the time) I managed to get back to a dressing station. I owe that to the fact that two brave fellows offered to take me, and we survived the hail which greeted us safely. I was then placed on a hospital steamer, after being taken from place to place for 24 hours. We went to Alexandria, and I was taken to the German hospital for nine days, and then sent to England, where I arrived on June 13th, and have been ever since. I am all right now and in fine form. I have lost my right eye, but my left has improved so much that I was passed the other day by the medical board, and am returning in a few weeks to the front. Before I leave for Gallipoli, however, I am making application to get across to France and Belgium with a few other fellows to see the difference between warfare there and on Gallipoli.  Possibly we might be able to pick up a few wrinkles. The only thing that effects us on this show is seeing our pals shot down. I have lost- a great many firm friends. As I was being carried back at Cape Helles, a chap came up and spoke to me. I did not see him, but I recognised his voice; it was ERIC (SPERRY) HILL (O.M.). At one of the dressing stations I was lying beside a chap. He said he was at school with me at Grammar. I think those were his last words. I wish I knew who he was. I asked him his name, but he was too weak, and died shortly after. I have given these examples for the purpose of showing how one runs into fellows from one's 'old School,' even on the battlefield. I have not seen many O.M.'s here, because I am in the beautiful woody districts around Hertfordshire, recuperating, and seldom go into the larger towns. In the next few weeks I expect to see quite a number. I have seen BENNY LEWERS and RUPERT CARINGTON (both wounded), Drs. KENT HUGHES and JOHNSTON, as well as numbers of young fellows who have come over here seeking commissions. Of course these latter are very anxious to 'do their bit,' but I think it would be ever so much better if they remained behind and helped to train men for the A.I.F., and when they become efficient and old enough, take their places in the A.I.F. There is plenty of time, because this is going to be a long business. At it is, they will have to remain here an interminable time, among strange people, in a strange land probably. I hope the good 'Old Dark Blue' held its own in the football matches, and good luck to the cricket and running teams."

Letters from O.M.s, p 144.

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

C V Heron, taken at Seymour circa 12 September 1915

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/DASEY1936

C. V. HERON writes from " In the Field, France " ...

I suppose you heard that my brother the old original `BIRDIE' had come abroad again.

He is now in England with the Training Batt. at Hurdcott Camp. He is trying to come across to France. He is too keen and too enthusiastic altogether, surely, after sustaining such a loss as that of an eye, as he did on Gallipoli; he has had his fair share of this war. He  should never have left Australia the second time, but he does not see these things from any but his point of view, and reckons that his place should be at the front.

Letters from O.M.s, p 91-192

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

E. J. C. TREADWELL writes from Royal Flying Corps, Shawbury, Salop, dated 24/8/17:

" I received my 'Melburnian' by the last mail,  I met WILFRED HERON a couple of days before he was due to 'go across.' He looked well and seemed happy at the thought of being 'in it' again.

Letters from OMs, p 194-95

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

GREVILLE PETERS wrote thus from France on March 10:

"Rather funny the other day , I was sent on a despatch to the which I couldn't find. I got a bit lost and was wondering where- to turn when I ran into a crowd of infantry. Imagine my surprise when I spied 'BIRDIE' HERON sitting in the doorway of his dugout there. I  flashed my O.M. badge, because, you know, I could hardly expect him to remember me at school , and we had a great yarn, and he was able to put me on my right track.

Letters from OMs, p 222, 1918

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

W. L. HERON, who was twice severely wounded and lost an eye in the Gallipoli campaign, and was Mentioned in Despatches, is again on active service in France. Advice has also been received by cable that his younger brother, VICTOR, who has been on active service in France for some months past, has been granted his commission.
War Notes re OMs. p 250.

War Services Old Melburnians 1914-1918

W. L. HERON enlisted on 15th August and embarked as 2nd Lieutenant in 7th Battalion on 19th October 1914. He arrived in Egypt on 6th December 1914 and took part in the  Landing on Gallipoli and was promoted to Lieutenant on 25th April 1915. At the Landing  he was wounded behind left ear and at base of skull.  He rejoined his unit on 6th May 1915 and took part in the Battle of Krithia two days later. On this occasion he received  bullet wound in right eye notwithstanding which he carried on for a further twelve hours after the battle was over and did not leave the line until ordered out next morning. He  was  invalided to hospital in Malta and his eye was excised; then to hospital in England till 9th October when he rejoined his unit and remained with it till Evacuation in December 1915. He was Mentioned in Despatches for operations during period from 6th May to 28th June 1915. Upon his return to Egypt he was invalided sick with eye trouble and returned to Australia in June 1916 and his appointment was terminated on 25th August 1916. He immediately re-enlisted and was Adjutant at Bendigo Camp from August to November 1916 when he was transferred to 59th Battalion. He embarked again on 16th December 1916 and was Adjutant to 15th Training Battalion in England from June to August 1917, arriving in France in September 1917. He took part in the Battles of Passchendaele from September to November and was promoted to Captain on 10th November 1917; he was Adjutant also of 59th Battalion in France from September 1917 to January 1918. In April 1918 he took part in the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux and in the second Battle of Ville-sur-Ancre and on 8th August in the Battle of Amiens when his right ankle was broken and he was invalided for two months, rejoining his battalion on 2nd October 1918. He  returned to Australia in May and his appointment was terminated on 21st December 1919.

War Service Particulars, p 323