Died
3 May 1941
Born
5 October 1875
Sources
Ancestry
CWGC
Bryn Trescatheric "Barrow Blitz" Dock Museum 2009
North West Evening Mail
Place
Walks
Themes
Arthur Howard Heath
Blitz Victim
Arthur Heath’s grave is slightly damaged, and the kerb which presumably has his name is displaced, and can’t be read. However, his wife’s kerb can be seen, and the grave is directly adjacent to another pair of Blitz victims’ grave, Emily and Irene Thompson, of 30 Hill Road.
What can be read on the right-hand kerb is:
ALSO ANNE JANE, BELOVED WIFE OF ARTHUR HOWARD HEATH DIED OCT. 12TH 1945
Arthur Howard Heath was the son of George Samuel Heath and his wife Eliza, of the Devonshire Brewery, who are buried near the Crematorium.
CWGC says “Firewatcher; of 34 Hawcoat Lane. Husband of Anne Jane Heath. Injured at Hawcoat Lane; died same day at North Lonsdale Hospital.” Mr. Heath died in the company of George Hemingway, a fellow firewatcher, of further up the road at 54 Hawcoat Lane.
In Bryn Trescatheric’s The Barrow Blitz 2009, Mrs E. A. is quoted regarding the death of her father: “.. I had to go back to get my grey firewatching tin hat, my father said he’d go on and I was to catch him up. When I returned to the front door I saw large objects hurtling through the sky. I rushed indoors and there was a terrific explosion. My father and Mr. H(eath) were both killed. Later that night a land mine floated over our house and landed in Hill Road, killing Mrs. T(hompson) and her young daughter. …” (p22)
The North-West Evening Mail 14 May 1941 had an account of the funeral:
FUNERAL OF MR. A. H. HEATH, BARROW
The funeral of Mr. A. H. Heath, of 34, Hawcoat-lane, Barrow, took place on Monday, the Rev. N. Robinson conducting the service at St. Paul’s Church and officiating at the grave-side.
The mourners included Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Osborne, Mr. G. Heath, Miss E. Heath, Mr. J. Heath, Mr. G. R. Heath, Mr. T. Pitt-Pladdy< Messrs. S. Ellis, R. Galloway, L. W. Whiteley, J. W. Osborne, R. F. Case, G. Case, W. Bagot, J. Berry, E. Banks, W. Roach, O. Muldoon, R. T. Dockeray, H. Britton, Jos. Danks, R. Pass and many others.
The bearers were Messrs. Warriner, Scott, Dobson, Pettifer, E. and J. Holmes.
There were numerous floral tributes, including wreaths from the employes (sic) of G. S. Heath, Ltd.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. A. Fletcher and Sons (Barrow), Ltd., High-street, Barrow.
National Probate Calendar
From Ancestry, the National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1942 has HEATH Arthur Howard of 34 Hawcoat-lane Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire died 3 May 1941 at The North Lonsdale Hospital Barrow-in-Furness Probate Lancaster 12 March to Anne Jane Heath widow. Effects £19687 18s 5d.
1939 Register
The 1939 Register at 34 Hawcoat Lane are Arthur H. Heath (DoB 5 October 1875), Director, Brewer, Wine & Spirit Merchant; Anne J. Heath (DoB 30 July 1871), Unpaid Domestic Duties; Florence M. Osborne (DoB 10 October 1906), Unpaid Domestic Duties; redacted record – but likely to be Florence’s child; Violet V. Roper (DoB 23 October 1915), Paid Domestic Servant. Florence Heath had married Arnold Douglas Osborne at St. Paul, Barrow, in 1933.
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census, living at 34 Hawcoat Lane, Barrow, are Arthur Howard Heath (35), Head, Manager, Wine & Spirit, Bottling and Mineral Water Stores (Brewery), born Barrow-in-Furness; Annie Heath (40), Wife, born Kendal, Westmorland; Florence Muriel Heath (4), born Barrow-in-Furness; Olive Shaw (20), General Domestic Servant, born Barrow-in-Furness.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census they were at 251 Abbey Road. Arthur is a Brewer, Annie is listed as Anne J. Heath, and the servant is Mary Loghran (18), born Barrow-in-Furness.
1891 Census
Arthur Howard Heath married Anne Jane Gardner in St. James’, Piccadilly, Westminster 5 September 1900. Her address is given as 85 Regent Street, L30. Her father, Christopher Gardner, was a chiropodist. The 1891 Census shows that the whole family of Gardner’s were born in Kendal, Westmorland.
Arthur Howard Heath shares his name with Arthur Howard Heath TD (29 May 1856 – 24 April 1930), a British industrialist, first-class cricketer, Rugby Union international and Conservative Party politician. (from Wikipedia).
