HERON Andrew Sergeant 7271, 4th Royal Irish Rifles. Died 15th September 1916. He is at rest on Movilla Cemetery, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. Some notes from what remains of his army record. He first enlisted into the army on the 20th November 1885 aged 18 years and 6 months. He was born on the 25th October 1869,employed as a labourer and lived with his parents, Andrew and Ellen at 13, Francis Street, Newtownards. He was posted to Liverpool as private 1412, King\'s Liverpool Regiment. On the 13th December he was promoted to Corporal and then Sergeant on the 28th May 1900. He was on active service in the Boer War, South Africa from the 3rd February 1900 to the 15th July 1902. He was discharged from the army on the termination of his engagement on the 10th August 1902 after serving 16 years and 265 day with section D. He gave his discharge address as 22, Cumberland Street, Workington, Cumberland, England. Prior to his second enlistment he was a publican in Newtownards, County Down and lived with his wife Elizabeth nee Ritchie at 40, Francis Street, Newtownards. They were married on the 16th March 1910 in Newtownards. On the onset of hostilities in 1914 he rejoined the army on the 16th September 1914 aged 46 at Holywood, County Down. , promoted to sergeant on the 18th September 1914, He was posted to the 4th Royal Irish Rifles as sergeant instructor. He was admitted to hospital at Belfast on the 25th November 1915 complaining of pain in his side, weakness, shortness of breath. It was found that he was suffering from aortic disease. (Vavular disease of the heart). He was discharged at Carrickfergus, County Antrim, no longer physically fit for war service. He had served this time for 1yr and 107 days.
