Michael Heaviside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Wilson Heaviside
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| Born | 20 October 1880 Durham, County Durham |
| Died | 26 April 1939 Craghead, County Durham |
| Buried |
St Thomas's Churchyard, Craghead
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Royal Army Medical Corps Durham Light Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Michael Wilson Heaviside VC (October 20, 1880 – April 26, 1939) was an English soldier. He earned the Victoria Cross, which is the highest and most important award for amazing bravery in battle. This special medal is given to soldiers from Britain and other Commonwealth countries.
Early Life
Michael Heaviside was born in 1880 in Durham, England. His father, John Wilson Heaviside, was a grocer. When Michael was young, his family moved to Kimblesworth. His father worked at a coal mine there. Michael went to the local school. Later, the family moved to Sacriston when his father changed pits.
After his mother, Annie, passed away, Michael joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. He became a stretcher bearer, helping wounded soldiers. He served in South Africa during the Second Boer War. He received two medals for his service there. Michael then became very sick with a fever and had to return home.
After leaving the regular army, he joined the Army Reserve. He started working underground at Burnhope Colliery, a coal mine. He met his future wife, Elizabeth, in Burnhope. They got married in Lanchester. Around 1913, he began working as a coal miner at Oswald pit. His family then moved to Craghead, near Stanley.
On September 7, 1914, just one month after World War I began, Michael Heaviside joined the army again. He was one of thousands of miners from County Durham who volunteered. After training, he went to France in June 1915. There, he experienced the tough daily life of trench warfare on the Western Front.
A Brave Rescue
In 1917, Michael was 36 years old. He was a Private in the 15th Battalion of The Durham Light Infantry. This was during the First World War, at the Battle of Arras in France. His amazing act of bravery happened on May 6, 1917.
On the evening of May 5, his battalion returned to their defenses on the Hindenburg Line. This was a strong German defense line near Fontaine-les-Croisilles, France. The British and German soldiers were only about 100 yards apart. The fierce fighting of the past few days had calmed down. However, enemy snipers and machine guns were still active. Any movement could attract deadly fire.
Around 2 o'clock the next afternoon, a soldier on watch saw something move. It was in a shell hole about 40 yards from the German lines. A wounded British soldier was waving an empty water bottle. Trying to help this soldier in daylight would be very dangerous. But Michael Heaviside said he would try.
He grabbed water and a first aid bag. Then, he bravely climbed over the barricade and went into "no-man's-land." This was the dangerous area between the two armies. Immediately, German soldiers started shooting at him. He had to drop to the ground. Then, he began to crawl 60 yards across the broken ground. He moved from one shell hole to another to reach the wounded soldier.
One person who saw it later wrote: "We could see bullets striking the ground right around the spot over which Heaviside was crawling. Every minute we expected to be his last but the brave chap went on." As he crawled closer to the German lines, the shooting got even worse. "The enemy seemed to be more determined to hit him, for the bullets were spluttering about more viciously than ever."
When Private Heaviside reached the soldier, he found the man extremely thirsty and confused. The soldier had been lying wounded in the shell hole for four days and three nights without food or water. Michael Heaviside gave him water and dressed his wounds. He promised he would return with help.
That night, Michael Heaviside led two other stretcher bearers back across no-man's-land. They reached the wounded soldier and carried him safely back. Without a doubt, Michael had saved this man's life. The award of the Victoria Cross to Private Michael Heaviside was announced on June 8, 1917. It was for his "most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty." He was the third soldier from The Durham Light Infantry to receive this award during the First World War.
Later Life and Legacy
After the war, Michael Heaviside returned to work as a miner in Craghead. On April 26, 1939, he passed away at his home. He was 58 years old. His health had suffered from his many years working underground and fighting in the war.
Hundreds of people came to his funeral. Many wore their medals from the Great War. They followed Michael Heaviside's coffin to St Thomas's Church in Craghead. The local Colliery Band played a sad song. At the graveside, soldiers fired their rifles as a sign of respect. Then, a bugler played "Last Post," a special military tune. After that, the mourners walked past the open grave, each dropping Flanders poppies into it. Poppies are a symbol of remembrance for soldiers.
Where to See the Medal
On July 12, 1957, Michael Heaviside's family gave his Victoria Cross and other medals to The Durham Light Infantry's Regimental Museum. This happened during a parade at Brancepeth Castle. Michael's mother, over thirty of his children, grandchildren, and other relatives watched. His son, Company Sergeant Major Norman Heaviside, proudly handed over his father's medals.
The Victoria Cross was displayed at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery. This museum was the official museum for the Durham Light Infantry. It held many items and documents about the regiment's history. It showed displays about their activities in World War I and World War II. The museum had uniforms, weapons, medals, flags, and photos.
In October 2015, the Durham County Council announced that the D.L.I. Museum would close to save money. Many people protested this decision, but the museum closed in March 2016.
Today, the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Collection is located in Spennymoor. You can find details about the collection on the Durham County Council website.
