The AIF Project

Walter John HEYLEN

Regimental number1338
Place of birthBurraga, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
Addressc/o J.J. Heylen, PO, Burraga, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 4.75"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinFather, J.J. Heylen, PO, Burraga, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date29 August 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll29 August 1914
Place of enlistmentSydney, New South Wales
Unit name3rd Battalion, G Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/20/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 2 May 1915
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 20), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
36
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Cemetery Details show Date of Death as 2 May,1915
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Killed in action, Gallipoli, 2 May 1915.

327 Pte Athol Herman FOLLERS, 3rd Bn, also from Burraga, wrote to Heylen's parents and siblings from Helipolis Palace Hospital, 23 June 1915: 'I am just able to tender my sincere sympathy in the loss of your brave son & brother Walter. He died a glorious death fighting for a great cause & for his King and Country. Away out on the slopes of Sair Bhar is a lonely grave marked with a wooden cross & an inscription on it: In Loving Memory of Private W.J. Heylen killed in action May 1st 1915. He was buried where he fell. He was always brave & kind hearted & always ready to do his duty to his country & fellow comrades. I can never speak & praise him enough & you should never regret in losing your son & brother, whilst fighting for such a just cause in which we are on our road to victory. Trusting you will accept deepest & sincerest sympathy.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsSurname entered incorrectly on Embarkation Roll as HEYLEM.
SourcesNAA: B2455, HEYLEN Walter John

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.