Upper Sturt’s William Heyer leaves Adelaide Hills to follow brother to World War I battlefields in France

PRIVATE William Heyer spent his life looking up to his older brother and like his sibling, Henry, their fates were intertwined on the battlefields of France.

Anzac story Private William Heyer Private William Heyer. Must include Australian War Memorial as source as well as barcode number when publishing: P09291.259

PRIVATE William Heyer spent his life following in the footsteps of his older brother, Henry.

Born in Upper Sturt a year after his brother in 1893, William worked as a gardener before enlisting for service in World War I.

William enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in October 1916, only 12 months after Henry, and assigned to the 11th reinforcements to the 32nd Battalion.

The 32nd Battalion was raised as part of the 8th Brigade in Mitcham in 1915.

He left Adelaide a month later aboard HMAS Afric before arriving in Plymouth in January for training.

He joined his unit on the Western Front in France in April 1917 when German forces were withdrawing to the Hindenburg line, which allowed the Allied front to advance towards Germany.

The 32nd Battalion took part in follow-up operations during the second battle of Bullecourt on the Hindenburg line and missed much of the heavy fighting while it protected its division’s flank.

While in rest camp in July, William found out his brother had been killed in an attack near Messines, Belgium.

The 32nd Battalion played a major role in Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium, in September 1917.

William was wounded – when the unit was heavily shelled – near Zonnebeke, Belgium, on October 13 and was evacuated to England to recover.

He did not rejoin his battalion until July 1918, after suffering illness.

William, 25, was killed in action near Nauroy, France, on September 29, 1918 when Australian and US divisions attacked the Hindenburg line.

It was the last major action of the war for the 32nd Battalion as more than 200 troops were killed as the line was broken.

William was buried at Bellicourt British Cemetery in France.

Originally published as Upper Sturt’s William Heyer leaves Adelaide Hills to follow brother to World War I battlefields in France