Charles Frederick Heeps

Charles Frederick Heeps, no 1416, was the brother of Mrs Samuel Lindsay of 11 Alexander Street, Manly. He was born at Fitzroy, Victoria. Genealogical sources give his date of birth as 16 November 1879 at Carlton, Victoria, christened Carl. His parents were Thomas McLuckie and Julia Jane Richards. He married Frances (Fanny) Jane Sanders on 18 February 1903 at Fitzroy, Victoria [1]. They were living at Orlando, Sydney Road, Manly, and he was in the building trade at the time he enlisted.

He enlisted on 25 May 1915, aged 34, and embarked on 25 June 1915. The photo states that he was in D Company, 19th Battalion, 5th Infantry. A report in the Sydney Morning Herald stated that he had been gassed in France on 28 May 1918. He had also recently had a remarkable escape when a shell splinter peeled off the top of his steel helmet [2].

Private Heeps apparently also served at Gallipoli, although this is not mentioned in his war service record.

He returned to Australia on 21 March 1919 on the Kildonan Castle. Fanny divorced him in 1929 on the grounds of adultery.

He was listed in the 1924 Electoral Roll at 11 Chapel Street, Windsor, Prahran, Victoria, profession Butcher, living alone.

He died on 20 June 1941 at Randwick, Sydney [3]

An Alice Maud Heeps died at Manly in 1942, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Heeps [4]

His sister, Mrs Ethel Rosina Agnes Lindsay, died in 1965; her parents were given as Thomas and Elizabeth.

[1] SMH 30 October 1928, p7; 15 May 1929, p12.

[2] SMH 1 August 1918, p8.

[3] NSW BDM 12101/1941.

[4] NSW BDM 10665/1942.