Birth: 18 January 1893 Barry, Glamorganshire, Wales, UK
Father: John Thomas Heavers 1860-1931
Mother: Clara Elizabeth Cowles 1860-1930
Christening: Unknown
Marriage: January-March 1921 Billericay, Essex, UK
Wife: Jennie Davis 1895-1980
Death: January-March 1971 Southend on Sea, Essex, UK
Ronald Thomas Heavers 1922-1941
Kenneth Walter Heavers 1926-2001
Birth of Walter Richard Heavers in FreeBMD in January-March 1893 in Cardiff (11a 431).
In the 1901 census as Walter K (sic - in the index, R on the original) Heavers aged 5, born in Barry, Glamorgan, Wales, and living with his parents (John S and Clara E), three brothers (Arthur, Thos J and Vercey J), three sisters (Clara A E, Emily J, and Florence L) and a boarder (Robert McLaughlin aged 46, born in Butech, Honduras, single, and employed as a ships cook) at 64 Kingsland Crescent, Barry, Glamorgan, Wales.
Entry in Ancestry UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 for Walter Richard Heavers born 18 January 1893 in Darry Dork (sic - in thindex) Glamorgan joined Ganges II 19 August 1910, Victorous 12 December 1910, promited from Boy to Ordinary 17 February 1911, Crescent 10 August 1911, Challenger 28 October 1911, Penguin 20 March 1913 and Pyramus 23 March 1913 (not 1918 as in the index).
Entry in Ancestry South Australiah Police Gazette 14 February 1912 From HMS Challenger at Fremantle on 27th January 1912 Walter Richard Heavers, OS, native of Glamorgan, born January 18th, 1893, height 5 ft. 6 in,brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion, several small scars on back, sleepy looking, slight cast in one eye, a reward of £1 is offered for the arrest, in Victoria, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1855, 1864-1924 for Walter R Heavers deserter, HMS CHallenger has been arrested and handed over to Naval authorities 15th February 1913, and in the South Australian Police Gazette 14 April 1913 From HMS Pyramus at Sydney on the 4th instant. Walter Richjard Heavers, 20 years of age, born at Merthyr, Glamorgan, seaman, 5 ft 6 in high, stooping, dark-brown hair, dark thin eyebrows, low forehead, deep wrinkles, grey eyes, , small odse, close mouth, receding lips, scowling face, dirty complexion, clean shaven, several small scars on back, dirty looking. £5 reward on arrest April 14 1913. There were also similar entries in the Tasmanian and New Zealand Police Gazettes.
In the 1911 census as Walter Richard Heavers aged 18, born in Merthyr, Glamorganshire, single and an Ordinary seaman at H M S Victorious, Tormoham, Torquay, Devon
There is an entry in Mapping Our Anzacs for Walter Richard Heavers also known as Richard Edwards, born in Barry Island, Wales, father John Thomas Edwards of 20 Red Birches? Crescent, Barry Island, Glamorganshire, Wales, enlisted in Sydney, NSW, Australia on 24 September 1914 as number 406 in 6th LH. This site is no longer available but similar information is in Lives of the First World War.
Entry in Ancestry Australia, WWI Service Records, 1914-1920 for Walter Richard Heavers adds to the above that he was aged 21 years 9 months, height 5ft 6.5 in, weight 10-12 lbs, chest 34.5-38.5 in, medium complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair,employed as a labourer and had served 6 months in the military in England. His name is given as Edwards, Richard, but written above is "True Names Heavers, Walter Richard", and is signed R Edwards. He joined the 6th Light Horse 2nd Australian Imperial Force as 406 Trooper Driver (MT) on 24 September 1914, embarked 17 December 1914, joined Unit At Maadi, 9 January 1916, 7 days CB for giving goverment property to a native; 1 pair boots, 16 February marched out to Serapeum ex Maadi, attached to Div'n Transport Depot West Kautara 31 August 1916, transfered to 2 Signal 8 February 1917, attached to Sig Sqd AMW 29 March 1917, rejoined Unit 2 Signal Troop 8 April 1917, returned to Australia 7 November 1918, embarked on HT Bermudian for UK on 21 November 1918, by sworn declaration changed his name to Walter Richard Heavers on 28 April 1919, 7 May 1919 attened British School of Motoring, Coventry, transfered to 2nd Signal Troop London 8 June 1919, discharged 22 September 1919 with 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory medals. There is a letter dated 25 October 1923 addressed to W R Heavers, Downs Villa, Vange, Essex conerning the British War and Victory medals which were passed to Headquarters, 2nd District Base, Victoria Barracks, Sydney.There is a letter dated 15 March 1965 indicating a claim for repatriation benefits.
Entry in the Register of Marriages for Walter R Heavers and Jennie Davis in January-March 1921 in Billericay (4a 1121) which included Vange.
My father worked for Wally building houses in Vange, Essex in about 1925.
His sons were born in Vange in 1922 and 1926, the family living at Burwyn, Bull Road, Vange, Essex.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register as Walter R Heavers born 18 January 1893, married, a master builder, and living with Jennie Heavers (wife?) and Kenneth W Heavers (son?) at Burroyn, Bull Road, Billericay, Essex.
They went to Canada and lived with their son Kenneth for a time, first in Vancouver and then Toronto, before returning and living at 2 Brislands Lane. Four Marks, Hampshire where my father and stepmother visited them.
Entry in the Register of Deaths for Walter Richard Heavers, born on 18 January 1893, in January-March 1971 in Southend on Sea (4a 2755).
There are four entries in Ancestry Public Member Trees for Walter K Heavers born in 1896 in Barry, Glarmorgan, Wales, parents John Heavers and Clara Elizabeth Cowles. There are also three entries for Walter Richard Heavers born on 8 January 1893 in Barry, Glamorgan, Wales, parents John Thomas Heavers and Clara Elizabeth Cowles, his marriage to Jennie Davis in Billericay, Essex, his two sons and death in March 1971 in Southend on Sea, Essex.
Walter Richard Heavers was my first cousin once removed, and his wife was his cousin and my first cousin once removed.
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