Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1944 - 1945 - 1946

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General Frederick Heath-Caldwell CB aged 86/87

Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell aged 76/77 

Capt. the Rev. Cuthbert H. Heath-Caldwell DSO aged 55/56 

Violet Heath-Caldwell (ne Palmer) - aged 59/60 

Patricia C.M. Heath-Caldwell - aged 24/25 

Diana Heath-Caldwell - aged 21/22 

Rosamond Heath-Caldwell - aged 19/20

James A. Heath-Caldwell aged 14/15

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Memoirs of Lt.J.A.Heath-Caldwell R.N.

Now, at the end of the war in Europe, and Japan, it happened that the atomic bomb which brought the war to a very swift close within twelve months of the Germans being surrendering. The war was continued in the Pacific against the Japanese and it was the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which brought the war to a close within fourteen days of that happening.

The Emperor of Japan told his people that the war had gone against them, and they were going to surrender. He had seen his cities in Japan, a lot of them burnt down by incendiary raids by American and British bombers and he saw that the war was over when this new weapon of war was introduced. Nagasaki and Hiroshima saved the lives of thousands of servicemen all over the Pacific, and I think they were as surprised as we were when we were one lunch time at the Royal Navel College up there in Eaton Hall when the Head Cadet Captain announced that some explosive devices had been dropped over Hiroshima and a fortnight later the war came to a close in the Pacific.

The Emperor of Japan’s palace was not razed to the ground in the air raids that the Americans conducted against them, obviously it was forethought, this was, they had had the Emperor’s buildings out of bounds of bombers, they were not allowed to drop their bombs anywhere near it and they didn’t.

Perhaps the Americans had more people who used their brains to do that, but I think it possible that if the military had been totally in control of the lot they would have razed the lot to the ground including the Emperor of Japan, because it was the influence of the Emperor, almost a god, more than in may other religions, and when he said the war was up they all immediately followed him and all the pilots who were earmarked to be Kamikaze pilots, they all survived too. So there were a lot of lives saved, although about 250,000 civilians died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and that was a very large amount of people to die just because one airman pressed one button, or two airmen in the case of both cities and this terrible power was unleashed in the world for the first time. 

At the end of the war when German submarines were no longer a menace, we had the chance, and the whole of our term were put on board, or we went on board a destroyer in Liverpool, it could have been a frigate, it was not a very big ship, and each one of us cadets was paired off with a sort of a sea-father, an understudy to each member of the ship’s company.

We went from Liverpool to Bangor, a small seaside port in North Wales and then we crossed the Irish Sea having anchored and spent a night at Bangor Northern Wales we went over we went over to Bangor in Northern Ireland in Ulster. And that was a very successful for us, we saw what happened in a ship, we saw how a ship’s company lived, everything. It was mainly be shown things, but we did actually sink a mine with rods sticking out of it, a contact mine, which was reported, and we went and sunk it by rifle  fire. We hoped it would explode, but it didn’t, it just sank. We hoped we would have a bit of a bang and a bit of a display. 

The next thing was that on our way over we were given a demonstration of dropping depth charges, only one depth charge was used, all of us gathered on the quarter deck on the stern of this destroyer and everything was explained to us what would happen, the main thing was that it would be shot off the end of the quarter deck from the sort of depth charge thrower, then we were told we had to count ten seconds or ten to fifteen seconds for the depth charge to hit the water, sink and then explode.

So all of us were there watching this, the depth charge was shot off and we saw it splash into the ocean astern of us then we all started counting to ourselves, one, two, three, four, five, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, and nothing happened, but one voice from the quarter deck, from an ordinary seaman said, an I use a swear word, in a loud voice, he said, “What, no fucking bang!” and that was our demonstration of how a depth charge worked. You had to make certain that it detonated, but that was not the only time in my naval career that that sort of thing happened. 

Up in Londonderry in Northern Ireland when I was a sub-lieutenant or Anti-Submarine Control Officer in a frigate we had, I don’t quite know how, won the fleet fighting efficiency prize and as a result of that, one day we were out at sea giving a demonstration of how  squid worked, these were 22inch mortars, six barrels situated just in front of the bridge on the deck of the frigate and when they fired off, they went about 300 metres ahead of the ship and then they sank down and they were set to explode at whatever depth the ASCO (Anti-Submarine Control Officer) control set on it, and that was my job as Anti Submarine Control  Office I was in charge of the ASDIC team in a small little compartment on the bridge where we picked echoes of things and tracked them and  fired off our projectiles at them.

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Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser
Saturday 20 January 1945

Warminster Rural District.

At the monthly meeting of Warminster and Westbury Rural District Council, held at the Laverton Institute on Monday afternoon, the Medical Officer, Dr. D.F. Morgan, reported that samples of water in various villages had been taken and there was no evidence of any pollution.

Rev. Heath-Caldwell: Does that mean that the water is fit for drinking without boiling in Kingston Deverill, and that it is all right for children? - Dr. Morgan: Yes.

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Saturday 12 May 1945
The Wiltshire Times

Housing Repairs.
Housing matters formed the chief topic of discussion at the monthly meeting on the Warminster and Westbury Rural District Council, held at the Laverton Institute, Westbury, on Monday afternoon. Mr.Tom Rivers was re-elected chairman, and Mr.P.B.Pepler vice-chairman for the ensuing year. - - - Evacuees Returning to Homes. The Billeting Officer (Mr.Lewis) reported that official arrangements were being made for evacuees to return to their homes. Assistance would be given, but only in cases where evacuees had homes to return to. No assistance would be afforded in other cases, nor would these people be encouraged to return. The number of "official" evacuees in the district on May 5th was 507. - - -

Future Council Meetings.
The Council decided to meet on every third Monday in the month in future, instead of very four weeks. Members present: Messrs. T.Rivers (chairman) - - - Rev.Heath-Caldwell and Colonel Wait.

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Saturday 23 June 1945
Staffordshire Advertise

Alsager - Church Garden Party
A substantial sum for the parish funds was raised as the result of a garden party held in the grounds of Christ Church Vicarage on Saturday, by invitation of the Rev.D.Nicholas (vicar) and Mrs.Nicholas. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs.Heath-Caldwell of Linley Wood, Talke, who congratulated the parishioners on the efforts being made to carry out progressive schemes so soon after Christ Church had been formed into a separate ecclesiastical parish. The opener was thanked by Major Quinton, who said that the support afforded to the effort was a happy augury for the future.

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Staffordshire Sentinel
Monday 2 July 1945

Wedding of Miss Doreen Stuart Johnson - To United States Army Officer.

- - -- (continues) - - - Guests at the wedding included - - Mrs R. Heath, General and Mrs Heath-Caldwell, 

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Saturday 7 July 1945
Nantwich Chronicle

Anglo-American Wedding - A Cheshire Bride - Bishop Performs Astbury Ceremony.
An American whose ancestors emigrated from England in 1643 to settle in North Carolina married a member of a well-known Cheshire family on Saturday at St.Mary's Church Astbury. He is Captain Edwin S.Yarborough, United States Army, only son of Mr.and Mrs.E.Yarborough of Durham, North Carolina, and his bride is Miss Doreen Stuart Johnson, W.A.A.F., eldest daughter of Mr.and Mrs.A.Stuart Johnson of Henshall Hall, Congleton.
The Wedding Guests - Mr.and Mrs.R.Heath, General and Mrs.Heath-Caldwell - - - (long list).

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Friday 27 July 1945
Western Daily Press

Warminster Entertains
The Warminster Urban Council has arranged entertainments all this week for the Royal and Merchant Navies.

An attractive opening fete was held on Saturday at the Lake Pleasure Grounds. It was formally opened by the Rev.Heath-Caldwell, rector of Kingston Deverill, now retired from the Royal Navy.

After paying a tribute to the men of the Services who are still carrying through a dangerous and monotonous task in the Far East, the Rev.Heath-Caldwell said he hoped they would resolve to do all in their power to see that British shipping was never again allowed to be neglected by the politicians.

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Wiltshire Times & Trowbridge Advertiser

Saturday 28 July 1945

Warminster - Navies' Week.

Sponsored by the Urban District Council, Warminster has this week been holding a Royal and Merchant Navies Week, with the object of raising a substantial sum as Warminster's acknowledgement of the debt owed to these two great Services for all they have done for the country during the War and for the great sacrifices the personnel of both Services have made.

Every day of the week there have been attractions of one kind and another, except that Wednesday was reserved for the Minster Fete, an annual function fixed long before the Navy Week effort was decided upon.

The week was "launched" on Saturday with a fete and accompanying attractions in the Lake Pleasure Grounds. The Rev. C.H. Heath-Caldwell R.N. (Ret.), Vicar of Brixton Deverill, formally declared the Week open, in the presence of a good gathering presided over by Mr A.B. Pickford (Vice-Chairman of the Council), deputising for the Chairman (Mr A. Dart) who was away. 

Mr Pickford explained the object of the Week and thanked the Rev. Heath-Caldwell for his presence and support.

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Staffordshire Sentinel

Wednesday 19 September 1945

Death at Talke

We record with deep regret the death yesterday of Major-General Frederick Crofton Heath-Caldwell of Linley Wood, Talke, who retired in 1919 after a most distinguished Army career, which extended over 42 years.

General Heath-Caldwell, who was 87, was a son of the late Admiral Sir Leopold George Heath K.C.B. He took the additional name of Caldwell on succeeding his great-uncle, James Stamford Caldwell  of Linley Wood, Talke.

He joined the Royal Engineers in 1877, and became Captain in 1888, Major in 1895, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1903 and Colonel in 1906.

He served in the Egyptian campaign, with clasp and silver star.

For his services in the Sudan in 1885 he was mentioned in Despatches and received the Queen's Medal, with two clasps.

He was Assistant Adjutant-General, Royal Engineers Headquarters, 1906-08.

From 1908 to 1913 he was Inspector of Royal Engineers. 

The Great War - Early in the 1914-18 war General Heath-Caldwell commanded the Scottish Coast Defences. He was Director of Military Training, War Office, in 1914 and 1915; G.O.C., Portsmouth Garrison 1916-18, and in 1918 he was appointed G.O.C., South-Eastern Area, Royal Air Force.

General Heath-Caldwell became a C.B. in 1910. He was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Chester, and during his residence of over 20 years in the Talke district, he gave liberal support to many religious, social and philanthropic institutions and causes. he was President of the Kidsgrove, Talke and District Branch of the British Legion, and Vice-President of the Talke and Butt Lane Hospital Saturday Committee. 

He married in 1889, Miss Constance Helsham-Jones, daughter of Colonel H. Helsham-Jones. There were two sons, one of whom was killed in the 1914-18 war.

To the widow and surviving son the sympathy of a wide circle of friends and of General Heath-Caldwell's associates in the many good causes which he helped, will be extended.

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Thursday 20 September 1945
Evening News (London)

42 Years in the Army.
Major-General Frederick Heath-Caldwell, who has died at 87, was in the Army for 42 years, 1877 to 1919. He was the son of an Admiral.

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Staffordshire Sentinel
Thursday 20 September 1945

Deaths

Heath-Caldwell. On Sept 18th, 1945, at Linley Wood, Talke, Staffs. Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B. Funeral at Talke Parish Church, 2.30pm on Saturday, Inquiries, F. Broadhurst, Kidsgrove,  Tel...

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Staffordshire Sentinel

Friday 21 September 1945

Deaths.

Heath-Caldwell - On Sept 18th 1945, at Linley Wood, Talke, Staffs. Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B. Service at St.Saviour's Church, Talke at 2.30pm on Saturday, Sept 22nd prior to interment at Talke Parish Church. Inquiries E. Broadhurst, Kidsgrove, Tel. 244. 

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Staffordshire Advertiser
Saturday 29 September 1945

General Heath-Caldwell - Funeral at Talke.

Well-known families in Staffordshire and Cheshire were represented at the funeral at Talke, near Newcastle, on Saturday, of Major-General Frederick Crofton Heath-Caldwell C.B., of Linley Wood, Talke, whose death took place on the previous Tuesday at the age of 87.

A guard-of-honour was formed at St.Saviour's Church, Talke, by scholars of St. Saviour's School. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and the medals which the late General had gained were carried on a velvet cushion by his grandson, Master James Heath-Caldwell.

The service was conducted by the Rector of Talke (the Rev. E. J. Davies) and the Lesson was read by the General's son, Capt. the Rev. C.H.Heath-Caldwell R.N. (Retired), Interment was in the burial ground of Talke Parish Church.

The family mourners were Mrs Heath-Caldwell (widow), Capt the Rev. C.H.Heath-Caldwell (son), Mrs C.H. Heath-Caldwell (daughter-in-law), Miss Patricia Heath-Caldwell, Miss Diana Heath-Caldwell and Miss Rosamond Heath-Caldwell (grand-daughters), Master James Heath-Caldwell (grandson), Mrs DeSalis (niece), Col. Leopold Heath (nephew), and Capt. J. Derek Poole and Mrs Poole.
Representatives of many organisations with which the late General had been associated were also amongst the large number of mourners.

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Staffordshire Sentinel

Thursday 11 October 1945

Mr John Francis Maddock - Funeral at Alsager
Mourners - - - - Mrs Heath-Caldwell ----

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Thursday 11 October 1945
Staffordshire Sentinel

Mr.John Francis Maddock - Funeral at Alsager
Friends by whom he was most affectionatly regarded, and representatives of public and church life of the district, attended the funeral at Alsager, yesterday of Mr.John Francis Maddock J.P. of Brundrett House, Alsager, whose death occurred on Sunday in his 88th year. - - Four clergymen officiated at the service in the church - Captain the Rev.C.H.Heath-Caldwell (Rector of Brixton Deverill) - - -
The Mourners. - - - Mrs.Heath-Caldwell
Flowers - - - Mrs.Heath-Caldwell; Cuthbert and Violet Heath-Caldwell - - -

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Saturday 20 October 1945
Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser

House Sites - In Warminster-Westbury Rural Districts. Many Objections and Delays.
Warminster and Westbury Rural District Council on Monday spent a considerable time in dealing with it housing sites, village by village, encountering in many cases objections to sites, and other factors entailing delay, which gave the officials and members much concern. - - - Monkton Deverill - Objection from the owner from the drainage disposal point of view. - The Rev.C.H.Heath-Caldwell said it seemed that there was a good deal of reason in the attitude of the tenant of that land. He did not think it was in the least obstructive and had suggested the Council should consider another site. - The Council agreed to accept the alternative site if the architect satisfied himself that no delay would be caused thereby. - - -

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