27201 Private Walter Heald, originally from Preston Lanes UK was a 26 year old watchman working in Toronto and visiting the UK in 1914 when he attested into the 15th Battalion at Southdown Camp near Salisbury. He was assigned to No. 2 Company and was in that sub unit at 2nd Ypres in April 1915 when he was wounded by chlorine gas and hospitalized in France. He returned to the battalion in July and was in it throughout the winter and spring of 1915-1916 when it was in the line in the Plogsteert area of Ypres salient.
The battalion was once again in front of the infamous Hill 60 occupying trenches no more than 45 yards from the German trenches on the hill overlooking their positions and their snipers were very active.
On April 4th, Private Heald was suffered gunshot wounds in both thighs and was evacuated to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples. He was transferred to Waldsen Court Auxiliary Hospital in the UK where he died of his wounds on April 13th. Private Heald was buried nearby in Eastbourne (Ocklynge) Cemetery.
