Records show 14 men with the Heenan surname enlisted in Canada and served as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War 1.
The information about each soldier listed below is located in their Attestation papers or Military Service Act Enlistment form. There is a significant amount of detail available in those documents but the abbreviations used by the military administrators make them difficult to interpret. I’ll add information as I manage to decipher it and also connect them to their families.
Canada Responds to World War 1
Canada was involved in the war at a very early stage. Shortly after the British declaration of war in August 1914, the country offered an initial contingent of 25,000 for service overseas. This was formed into the 1st Canadian division in January 1915 and by the following month was on active duty in France.
A second contingent was formed in the autumn of 1914. In September 1915, the Canadian Corps was formed, incorporating the 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions, and the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. Further contingents and reinforcement drafts continued to be sent overseas. A
At the time of the Armistice in November 1918, the Canadian Corps had expanded to include four infantry divisions and corps units. Other Canadian units, including some artillery batteries, engineering companies, and railway and forestry troops, served directly under British command in France and Belgium. Still other units, responsible for administrative support, training, forestry and medical care, served in England.
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), as the army raised during the First World War was designated, grew in the course of the conflict to 619,636, of whom 424,589 served in Europe.
Heenan Soldiers
| Name | Born | Service |
| James Havelock Hennan | 2 Sep 1888 in Roland, Manitoba | Canadian Army Veterinary Corps (served in France as temporary captain) |
| James Anthony Heenan | 16 Feb 1884 in Lucan West Indies, Ontario | 13 M.D First Depot Battalion |
| Thomas H Heenan | 29 Jun 1894 in Lindsay, Ontario | Gunner, 9th Royal Field Artillery |
| Timothy Francis Heenan | 27 May 1896 in Victoria | Private, 1st Depot Battalion, East Ont Regt |
| Nicholas Heenan | 21 May 1877 in Louth, Ireland | Private, 104 and 131 Regiment |
| John Albert Heenan | 29 Sept 1891 in Halifax, Nova Scotia | Private, 115th Battalion |
| William Joseph Heenan | 29 March 1895 in Coburg, Ontario | Shoeing S; 26 Bn 7th Brigade (served in France, discharged 30 Oct 1916 as result of injuries) |
| Wesley Heenan | 1 Dec 1884 in Roland, Manitoba | Sapper , Man Regt 1st Depot Battalion |
| Michael Heenan | 17 June 1878 in Petersboro, Ontario | Sapper, Canadian Engineers |
| Frederick Heenan | 7 Oct 1892 in Fredericton Junction | 44th Bn Can Inf |
| Vincent Heenan | 19 Aug 1894 in Peterboro, Ontario | 1st Depot Bn |
| George Robert Heenan | 15 Aug 1889 in Hyderabad, India | Private, 3rd CASC This soldier is connected to the family of Hammersley Heenans, family group 127 |
| William Joseph Heenan | 2 Aug 1885, Montreal | Sapper, Canadian Engineers |
| David John Heenan | 4 Oct 1879 in Loughamland, Ireland | Private, 3rd Field Engineers |
Just found your site. I am the granddaughter of Nicholas Heenan, listed above, and the great-niece of Peter Heenan who was an MP and MPP in Canada. I am tracing our family in the Kilcoo area of County Down. I can get back to Nicholas and Peter’s grandfather, but then hit a brick wall.
Hi Pat, thanks so much for getting in touch. I didn’t realise there was a connection between Nicholas and Peter Heenan – I wrote a different article on Peter Heenan and how he made a visit to Ireland during a government trip to the UK. Here it is https://heenan.one-name.net/from-colliery-boy-to-cabinet-minister-the-remarkable-career-of-peter-heenan/
I don’t know the names of his parents – would you be willing to share some information that I can add to this site, credited to you of course