John Henry Heathcote

Early Life

John was born in Longsight, Manchester. He was the son of Francis Henry and Elizabeth Heathcote of 32 Hanover Street, Audenshaw. Before he enlisted John was a labourer.

Service Life

Private John Heathcote (85092, 3513461) enlisted on 5 March 1919, aged 18 and served with the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment in Iraq. For his service in the army John was awarded the General Service Medal with the ‘Iraq’ clasp. John’s medal can be seen in the Museum of the Manchester Regiment.

We Shall Remember Him

John was killed in action during the Battle of Hillah, Iraq, on 24 July 1920. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq (Grave/Memorial Reference - Addenda Panel). John’s Next of Kin Memorial Plaque is on display in the Museum in the Manchester Regiment in the Ladysmith Gallery memorial cabinet drawer 3. It is unusual for John’s next of kin to be permitted a First World War memorial plaque as the qualifying date for the plaque ended on the 30 April 1920 about 3 months before John died.