Staff Sergeant Thomas Heery

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Thomas Joseph Heery
Ancestor's date of birth: 16/08/1880
Ancestor's date of death: 01/08/1942
Cause of Death: Heart failure
Service Number: 2230
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Sydney
Unit: A Squadron 3^rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: SSGT, Date Effective: 07/01/1902
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): WO1, Date Effective: 05/05/1919
Murray Page: 125
Contingent: Sixth New South Wales
Ship: British Princess, Date of Sailing: 21/03/1901
Memorial details: Died unmarried 1 August 1942 at New South Wales state hospital and homes, buried 3rd August 1942 at the Roman Catholic Cemetery Rookwood NSW, age 62
Decorations: Queen and King's South Medal with Clasps Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, World War One 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
Personal Characteristics: Height 1.80 m, Weight 73.5 kg, Fair complexion, Blue eys, Brown hair.
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided
Details of service in war: Enlisted as Quarter-master Sergeant. Action in the The guerrilla phase of the war, attached to Colonel Remington's Column. The Regiment took part in Operation in the Eastern Transvaal and Eastern Orange River Colonyin 1901-02. Promoted to Squadron Sergeant-Major on the 7 January 1902. Several drives in the early part of 1902, the principal one the Harrismith drive, resulting in the Capture of 251 prisoners, 26,000 head of cattle and 2,000 horses. Embarked at Cape Town for Australia 4th May and arrived Sydney on 3rd of June 1902, calling at Albany, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Service and life after the Boer War: Train at Sydney University 3 years. Teacher Master of Mathematic. World War One. Enlisted No 556 Lance Corporal 1st Battalion E Coy, 29th August 1914. Embarked for Egypt on SS Africa and arrived Egypt 2 December 1914. No longer fit for service on 28 April returned on Australia on SS Suevic and discharged at Melbourne. Returned to duty in NSW 6th December 1915. Passed and recommended for a commission Duntroon June 1916. Embarked on SS Wiltshire 22nd August 1916 as Acting Sergeant, 19th reinforcement 1st Battalion. served, France March 1917 to January 1918. Promoted Temporary Warrant Officer Class 1, Instructor education service at Tidworth May 1919. Return to Australia on SS Boonah 11th June 1919 and discharged 10th August 1919. In 1921 appointed schoolmaster permanent Naval Force, February to August 1921.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Peter John Wilmot, Knoxfield VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Nephew

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