LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI

Private Francis Martin Healey or Healy
2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons)

Town Memorial P4.R3.C1

Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS

Trooper
Francis M Healy
2nd Westminster Dragoons
Egypt
June 12 1915

Unfortunately it has only been possible to trace his unit's movements, and impossible to ascertain the causes of Francis Healy's death. However, the evidence suggests that his death was not attributable to enemy action.

The 2nd Westminster Dragoons, otherwise known as the 1st/2nd County of London Yeomanry, arrived in Egypt with the 5th Yeomanry Brigade on or about 14 April 1915.

On 13 August 1915, as part of 1st Composite Mounted Brigade, 2nd Mounted Division, they went to Gallipoli to serve as infantry. Francis Healy died in the interval.

A strength return in the Brigade War Diary (1) gives the Dragoons' strength as 16 officers and 320 other ranks. However though the individual War Diaries of medical and artillery units are available, that of the Dragoons is not.

In the interval between arrival in Egypt’s and departure for Gallipoli, some units of the Brigade were concentrated around Abbasia.

Francis Healy's name appears on the memorial inside St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead, however this does not necessarily imply a connection with the church, as the list includes all those coming from the parish area.

Notes on sources
1. File W095/4292 War Diary of 1st Composite Mounted Brigade - Public Record Office, Kew, Richmond.

Stop Press
Soldiers Died in Great War – Cavalry – Imperial War Museum, Lambeth
gives Francis Martin Healy. No.1551, born Montreal and enlisted London (Earlsfield S W): died in Egypt

Further research

Private
HEALEY, FRANCIS MARTIN
Service Number 1551
Died 12/06/1915
Aged 47
2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons)
Son of William and Lydia Healey; husband of Mary Margaret Healey, of 71, Burntwood Lane, Tooting, London.
Buried at CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
Location: Egypt
Cemetery/memorial reference: B. 287.

Note the difference in the spelling of his surname. Healy would appear to be the correct version (see below).

He died in Cairo, Egypt, possibly from a heart condition according to his entry in the Register of Soldiers' Effects. He was much older than the average Private and had 'rejoined the Colours'. His Pension record gives his rank as Trooper but other sources (eg CWGC, Canadian Virtual War Memorial) say he was a Private. On the Leatherhead War Memorial he is a Trooper.

His Life

According to Soldiers died in the Great War, Francis was born in 1868 in Montreal, Canada. Montreal was also his birthplace stated in the 1881 and 1901 Censuses.

His father was William Healy, born in Ireland. He was a Bandmaster in the British Army. He died in 1881 aged 37 and is buried in Leatherhead Parish Churchyard as William Healey born 1844. Further information on his antecedents is sought.

His mother was Lydia, born in New Romney, Kent [1881 & 1901 Censuses] in about 1845. She died on 8 August 1924 and is buried in Leatherhead Parish Churchyard with her husband.  Further information on her antecedents is sought. She had at least a sister Maryann or Mary Ann.

It is not yet known when and where William and Lydia got married.

Francis's siblings included at least Anne born about 1861, Jessie and Lydia born about 1873, Alfred born about 1878 and Mary Ann born about 1880.  

Francis lived in these places when single:
1871 Census: Wellington Barracks, Elton, Bury, Lancashire with:
William Healy, his father, 29, born Ireland: Sergeant, 100 Reg
Lydia Healy, his mother, 25, born New ???, Kent
Francis Healy, son, 2, born Canada
Anne Healy, daughter, 9y 6m, born S?alford, Lancaster

1881 Census: 20 Simpsons Road, Bromley Kent, where his recently widowed mother was staying with her sister Maryann's family, the Saunders: the Census lists these Healys:
Lydia Healy, 37, sister in law [of Benjamin Saunders], widow, born New Romney, Kent
Frank Healy, 12, scholar, born Montreal, Canada
Jessie Healy, 8, scholar, born Cobham, Hants
Lydia Healy, 8, scholar, born Cobham, Hants
Alfred Healy, 3, born ?India
Mary Ann Healy, 8 months, born Manchester, Lancashire

As noted above Francis's father William had died in 1881 and was buried at Leatherhead so there was a Leatherhead connection by then. 

1901 Census: 1 Queen Anne's Terrace, Leatherhead, Surrey:
Lydia Healy, his widowed mother, aged 56: head of the household
Francis Healy, 33, son, born Montreal, Canada: Soldier
Alfred Healy, 23, son born ?Juhlanda, India: Clerk, Brewery
Ruth Colbeck, 28, boarder, born Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: Assistant School Teacher

So Francis had followed his father and become a soldier. As he has not been found in the 1891 Census, when he was 23, he might have been serving abroad in the Army.

At the time of the 1891 Census his mother Lydia was living at 6 Magazine Place, Leatherhead with her nephew Charles E Knight, a Brewer's Clerk aged 18. From the Electoral Registers she remained in the town until at least Francis's death in 1915 (and we know she was buried there in 1924):
at least 1892 to 1895 at [6] Magazine Place, Leatherhead
at least 1898 to 1915 at [1] Queen Anne's Terrace, Leatherhead

When Francis married Mary Margaret Perrins on 14 October 1902 at St Mary and St Nicholas, the Parish Church of Leatherhead, Surrey, he appeared to have left the Army. The Marriage Register entry reads:
Francis Martin Healy, 34, Bachelor, Musician, 1 Queen Annes Terrace, Leatherhead: Father - William Healy, Bandmaster
Mary Margaret Perrins, 35, Spinster, 29 Hampstead Road, Dorking: Father - Isaac Perrins, Pattern Maker.

Mary was born on 30 August 1867. Further information on her antecedents is sought.

A note on the perils of transcription in genealogical databases, in this case Ancestry, with reference to the Register of Marriages:
Francis's surname is clearly Healy not Healey, both in his signature and that of a witness, his sister Jessie Agnes Healy.
Mary is a Perrins in her signature, not Perrnis as it appears to have been transcribed

The following reports of a musical event are linked to the 1 Queen Ann's Terrace address and a Healy ... Francis's brother Alfred [Alfred George] would seem to fit the bill and indeed he was recorded in the 1908 Electoral Roll paying 5s a week to Mrs Healy [Lydia, his mother] for a first floor furnished bedroom:  

Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 25 January 1908
2ND V.B. EAST SURREY REGT. ("K" COMPANY)
By permission of the the Commanding Officer (Lieut. Col. L G. Mortimer V.D.), and the Officers of the Company, a Ball will held in the Victoria Hall, Leatherhead, on Friday, February  7th, 1908. Mr. Glenister's Quadrille Band will be in attendance. Dancing to commence at 8.45. Single Tickets, 2s 6d; Double 4s 6d (tickets limited). To be obtained of the committee (see bills), or of the Hon. Sec., Sergt. A. Healy, 1, Queen Anne Terrace, Leatherhead.

Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 15 February 1908
VOLUNTEER BALL
The annual ball, held in connection with the Leatherhead Company of the 2nd V.B. East Surrey Regiment, took place at the Victoria Hall on Friday evening last, and the gathering proved one of the most successful that have been held for many years. The hall was most tastefully decorated, a splendid collection of very fine plants and flowers having been kindly lent by Mr. A. Tate [of Tate & Lyle], of Downside, and these were displayed to the finest advantage by Mr. W. Mease while the committee had arranged flags and bunting in the most tasteful style, the ball room as a result presenting a very attractive appearance.

Owing to previous engagements Capt. R. Hue Williams and Lieut. Chetwynd Stapylton were unable attend the ball, but the gathering numbered upwards of 130, and a splendid programme of dances having been arranged, dancing was kept up with much spirit until the early hours of Saturday morning, the music being provided by Mr. H. Glenister's Quadrille Band.

The secretarial duties were ably carried out by Sergt. A. G. Healy, who received every assistance in superintending the arrangements from the following committee: Sergt. Inst. Vallally, Sergt. Savage, Sergt. Richards, Col. Sert. Barnard, Ptes. F. Wright, E. Ventham, G. Marriner, W. Johnson, and G. Hill.

Francis and Mary had moved from Leatherhead by 1911:

1911 Census: 4 Colchester St, Pimlico, London SW
Francis M Healy, 47, born Canada: Musician Pensioner & Private: head of the household
Madge Healy, wife, 42, born Dudley, W[orcestershire?]

That Census also recorded that Madge (Mary Margaret) Healy had not had any children.

The picture emerges of at least two generations of professional musician Healys serving their country in the Army. Healy snr was born in Ireland, a Bandsman and later a Bandmaster. His son who was born in Canada, almost certainly whilst his father was serving there, was later a soldier himself and was also a musician. By the time of the 1911 Census Francis was a [military] Pensioner.

He appears to have re-enlisted at Earlsfield, SW London. This links with the Tooting address at which the War Graves Commission corresponded with his widow.

After WW1

Francis's mother Lydia died in 1924 and is buried in Leatherhead Parish Churchyard with his father, William, both surnamed Healey rather than Healy:
G1117 HEALEY LYDIA b1846 d1924 78 08/08/1924
G1117 HEALEY WILLIAM b1844 d1881 37

His widow Mary was living at 71 Burntwood Lane, Tooting, London when corresponding with the War Graves Commission. She was still there when she died on 20 March 1929 at the Ravenslea Nursing Home, Nightingale Lane, Wandsworth Common, Wandsworth. Her effects were left to Walter Perrins, Labourer.

Francis does not appear to be named on a Tooting War Memorial.

1 Queen Anne's Terrace remained a Healy family home for many more years - the 1950 Electoral Register records Francis's brother Alfred George still there, with Constance [Ellen] Healy and William [George] Healy.  Alfred died when still there on 11 January 1954 and he and Constance are also buried in Leatherhead Parish Churchyard.

Francis Healey/Healy is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish Church
Surrey in the Great War
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family

last updated 9 Aug 20: 21 Sep 20