KILLED IN ACTION. GALLANT END OF BRAVE ATHY MAN.

NATIONALIST AND LEINSTER TIMES 5 December 1914

 KILLED IN ACTION. GALLANT END OF BRAVE ATHY MAN. HOW MR.  P.  J.  HEYDON DIED

 Amongst those who have been killed in action in France is Mr. Patrick J. Heydon, son of the late Mr. P.  Heydon, and of Mrs. Heydon, of Churchtown House, Athy.  He was only 30  years  of  age,  and  on  the  outbreak  of  war  rejoined  the Irish  Guards.

He went with the Expeditionary Force to France and took  part  in  several  engagements with his regiment.  He met his death on  1st  September,  when  the  Brigade  of  Guards  were  in  action,  the engagement  being one of the most severe that has taken  place since the present war broke out.  The action was a rearguard  one during the now famous  retreat  of  the  Allied  forces  from  Mons  to  the  Marne,  and  occurred  in  the  great  forest  of  Vilkers  Cotterets,  about  40 miles  north  of  Paris.   The  Guards  suffered  severely  in  this   action,  being   heavily  pressed  by  great  numbers  of  the  German  army.  Young    Mr.  Heydon  was  one  of  many  gallant  Irish soldiers who fell fighting valiantly  to  the  last  for the  cause  they espoused.  This week his bereaved friends and relatives received official intimidation through the British Red Cross Society in Paris, per Rev.  H.  S. Briggs, of the Inquiry Department for wounded and missing.   His  letter stated that Sergeant John  O’Dwyer,  of the Irish  Guards  asked  him  about  six  weeks ago  if  he  could  find  any  word  about  P.  J.  Heydon, at Villers  Cotterets.   On two occasions the writer stated he made inquiries in the  neighbourhood,  but  found  nothing.

Last  week  It  was  decided  to  open  up  a large grave  in the  Forest  where  the  fight of September  1st  took place.  On Monday, in company  with Lord  Robert Cecil, M.P.; Lord Elphinstone,  and Lord Killanin,  the tomb  was opened  in  the  presence  of  the writer, and the identity  discs taken off all the bodies  found.  On Wednesday they found the  body  of  P.  J.  Heydon;  together with  the bodies  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  the Hon. George  Morris,  Captain  Tisdell,  and  several  Irish  guardsmen.  On  Thursday the local dean,  Abbe  Grainblot,  read  prayers over  the  bodies  of  the  Roman  Catholic soldiers,  and  remembered  them  at  Mass.

“Please accept  by sympathy. It  may console  his  friends slightly  to  know  that  the  grave  will  be  looked  after  by  the  local French  authorities, and a cross erected over spot,” concluded the letter.

To Mrs. Heydon and family in their bereavement, the deep sympathy  of the public is tendered.  Deceased was a fine type young Irishman, “and was extremely popular with a large circle of acquaintances”.

On Wednesday Solemn  Office and Requiem Mass  for  the  happy  repose  of  the  soul  of  the  deceased  was  offered  up  in  Parish  Church,  Athy.  Very Rev.  Canon Mackey, P.P., V. F., presided, and the other clergy present included – Rev.  J.  Nolan, C.C. Celebrant; Rev.  M.  O’Rourke, B.A.; Rev.   J.  O’Callaghan, B.A., Prior Dominican Church, and Rev.  J.  Purcell, O.P. A large number of relatives and friends of the  deceased  was  present.     

Re-typed by Hannah Mustapha