Directions

Heath Cemetery is easily located on the southern side of the major road between Amiens and St Quentin (the N29), about 13 kilometres from Villers-Bretonneux.

About the cemetery

Heath Cemetery was formed after the Armistice by the concentration of large numbers of graves from the surrounding area. The cemetery was named for the wide expanse of land on which it stands - land which saw some of the most triumphant Australian action of the war. This is the area captured by the Allies in August 1918, the 'March to Victory' that was spearheaded by Australian and Canadian forces. The extent of the sacrifice made by the Australians in this area is demonstrated by their disproportionate representation in Heath Cemetery - 984 out of 1860 graves are Australian. Many notable Australians lie here and there is probably no better place to comprehend the outstanding contribution made by the AIF in 1918.

Total burials: 1860

Australian burials: 984 (74 unidentified)

Notable Australians buried in this cemetery

• Private Robert Beatham VC, 8th Battalion, died August 11th 1918, age 24. Private Beatham won his Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery during the attack on Rosieres on August 9th 1918. When the advance was held up by machine gun fire, Private Beatham dashed forward with one other man and engaged four enemy machine gun positions, killing 10 men and capturing 10 others. Later, once the objective had been reached, another machine gun was causing casualties amongst the Australians. In spite of being wounded, Private Beatham set out to capture the position, but was killed in the attempt. Grave VII. J. 13.

• Lieutenant Alfred Gaby VC, 28th Battalion, died August 11th 1918, age 26. Lieutenant Gaby hailed from Scottsdale, Tasmania, and won his VC during the Australian advance on August 8th 1918, the 'Black Day of the German Army'. During an attack on an enemy trench, a strong machine gun position held up the advance and was causing casualties amongst the Australians. Gaby found a gap in the German wire and single-handedly ran along the parapet, emptying his revolver into the garrison. The Germans scattered and Gaby captured 50 men and four machine guns. He then led his men forward and captured the objective. Three days later he led his company in another attack in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire. In spite of this fire he walked along his line of posts, encouraging his men and helping to consolidate the line. Whilst doing so he was killed by a sniper. Grave V. E. 14.

• Corporal Francis Shaw, DCM, 43rd Battalion, died August 12th 1918, age 23. Corporal Shaw is typical of the high standard of NCO who served in the AIF and greatly distinguished himself during the Battle of Hamel on July 4th 1918. During the Australian advance he fired his Lewis gun from the hip and captured a German strongpoint. Later in the day he advanced in the same manor on another German machine gun post. A German officer appeared and was shot by Shaw. He then cleared the post, finding eight dead Germans around their gun. The advance continued until held up by three machine gun positions. Shaw hailed a passing tank and while it dealt with two of the positions he captured the third on his own, along with an officer and twenty men. Why he was not awarded the Victoria Cross and instead received the lesser Distinguished Conduct Medal is a mystery. He died of wounds during the Australian advance on August 12th. Grave VII. D. 10.

• Two officers who played important roles in the famous Australian actions at Villers-Bretonneux also lie in Heath Cemetery. Lieutenant-Colonel John Milne DSO was the commanding officer of the 36th Battalion. He was responsible for the famous Australian charge on April 4th 1918 and was killed in action on April 12th. Grave VIII. J. 19. Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Knox-Knight was the commanding officer of the 37th Battalion, which led the Australian column in the advance from Villers-Bretonneux on August 10th. He was killed in action that night. Grave V. B. 15.

• Lieutenant Edward Bice MC and Lieutenant John Chapman, 3rd Squadron Australian Flying Corps, are buried side by side in Heath Cemetery. During the Australian advance on August 8th 1918 they performed valuable work in their aircraft, flying over the German lines, marking German positions and tracking the Australian advance. Whilst performing this work they were shot down. Grave I. I. 12.