Heath, Francis Charles

Francis Charles Heath was born in Midey, Wales, on 8 August 1888. He was the second youngest of Benjamin and Sarah Ann Heath’s 11 children. His father was a coal miner, and both of his parents had been married before. The Heaths immigrated from Wales to Alberta in 1900.

Heath was a farmer when he enlisted in the 187th Overseas Battalion in Lacombe, Alberta, on 14 June 1916. After initial training in Canada, he and his unit sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to England aboard SS Olympic on 16 December 1916, arriving in Liverpool on 26 December 1916.

In England, Heath was transferred to the 202nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Sportsmen's) and then to the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion (Alberta). He joined the 31st Battalion in France on 16 June 1917. Six days later, he was assigned to the 14th Canadian Machine Gun Company, which was attached to his battalion.

Heath was admitted to hospital with shrapnel wounds to his left arm on 7 November 1917 and was sent to England soon after to recover. On 11 June 1918, he rejoined the 31st Battalion in France. On 9 August 1918, Heath was wounded during the Battle of Amiens. He died later that day.

Francis Charles Heath is buried in Caix British Cemetery, in France.