b. 12/04/1894 Watford, Hertfordshire. d. 14/01/1972 Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 03/01/1916 St Omer, France.
Henry W Hearne AM
Henry was born on 12th April 1894, the second eldest of seven children born to George Joseph and Louisa Gertrude Hearne in Watford, Hertfordshire. Following basic schooling, Henry became an apprentice hairdresser just prior to the outbreak of World War I. He enlisted at the outbreak of the war, and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Hearne was posted to France on 31st October 1915, and was presented with his AM by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 23rd January 1918, by which time he was a Flight Sergeant. He married Bertha Rose but she died aged just 38 in 1929.
AM CITATION:
On the 3rd January, 1916, at about 3 p.m., a fire broke out inside, a large bomb store belonging to the Royal Flying Corps, which contained nearly 2,000 high explosive bombs, some of which had very large charges, and a number of incendiary bombs which were burning freely. Major Newall at once took all necessary precautions, and then, assisted by Air Mechanic Simms, poured water into the shed through a hole made by the flames. He sent for the key of the store, and with Corporal Hearne, Harwood and Simms entered the building and succeeded in putting out the flames. The wooden cases containing the bombs were burnt, and some of them were charred to a cinder.
BURIAL LOCATION: CHESHAM BOIS BURIAL GROUND, CHESHAM BOIS, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.
K560.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
