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Corporal William Heslop
Description
TitleCorporal William HeslopSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionWilliam was born 5th February 1894 in Irwell, eldest son of John and Catherine Heslop. Before enlisting he was a blacksmith and farrier working for his father at Irwell. He was a described as a steady, industrious lad. William was 5ft 8in, with a medium complexion, light brown eyes and dark brown hair. He had a distinguishing mark, the scar of a burn on the outer-side of his right calf. He was perhaps best known in this district as a footballer. He played for the Irwell Club for two or three seasons and, even when only 18, showed remarkable promise.
William enlisted 7 May 1915 at Trentham and was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment. He embarked for Suez on 9 October 1915. He was admitted to hospital with mumps in Egypt, then when in France, influenza. He returned to his unit in the field on 6th May 1916 and was killed in action on 15 July 1916 aged 22. The New Zealand forces were tasked with holding the Armentieres section of trenches. He was buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery in Armentieres, France. William is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
Armentieres was occupied by the 4th Division on 17 October 1914 and it remained within the Allied lines until its evacuation ahead of the German advance on 10 April 1918, after a prolonged and heavy bombardment with gas shell. It was occupied by the Germans next day, and was not recovered until 3 October 1918. Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery was begun (plot ix) in October 1914 and during the winter of 1914-15 it was used for civilian burials (later removed), the town cemetery at Le Bizet being too greatly exposed. The cemetery continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units (particularly the 4th, 6th, 21st, New Zealand) until April 1918.First NameWilliamLast NameHeslopFamilySingleSon of John and Catherine HeslopDate of Birth5 February 1894Place of BirthIrwellDate of Death15 July 1916Place of DeathArmentieres, France Cause of DeathKilled in action Age at Death22
William enlisted 7 May 1915 at Trentham and was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment. He embarked for Suez on 9 October 1915. He was admitted to hospital with mumps in Egypt, then when in France, influenza. He returned to his unit in the field on 6th May 1916 and was killed in action on 15 July 1916 aged 22. The New Zealand forces were tasked with holding the Armentieres section of trenches. He was buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery in Armentieres, France. William is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
Armentieres was occupied by the 4th Division on 17 October 1914 and it remained within the Allied lines until its evacuation ahead of the German advance on 10 April 1918, after a prolonged and heavy bombardment with gas shell. It was occupied by the Germans next day, and was not recovered until 3 October 1918. Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery was begun (plot ix) in October 1914 and during the winter of 1914-15 it was used for civilian burials (later removed), the town cemetery at Le Bizet being too greatly exposed. The cemetery continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units (particularly the 4th, 6th, 21st, New Zealand) until April 1918.First NameWilliamLast NameHeslopFamilySingleSon of John and Catherine HeslopDate of Birth5 February 1894Place of BirthIrwellDate of Death15 July 1916Place of DeathArmentieres, France Cause of DeathKilled in action Age at Death22
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OnePlaceIrwell
ImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
ImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial CenotaphMilitary Service
Memorial or CemeteryCite Bonjean Military CemeteryEllesmere County War Memorial Occupation before EnlistingBlacksmith Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details7th May 1915 at TrenthamService Number6/2193 Embarkation9th October 1915Reinforcement7th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Corporal William Heslop. Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/243