William Henry Heap

Served with Essex County Constabulary from Dec 21, 1937 and died on Jun 10, 1944.

Police Constable William Henry Heap was the son of Richard James Heap and Phoebe Jones Heap, and was born on 2nd January 1916 in Penarth, Glamorgan. He served in the Welsh Guards from 11th January 1934 to 4th December 1937 and he joined Essex County Constabulary on 21st December 1937.

William was posted to Grays on 19th February 1938 having been trained at Headquarters. In a force order dated 16th September 1939 he was commended by the Chief Constable for 'the diligent manner in which he pursued his enquiries in connection with a series of cases of breaking and entering'.

On 1st December 1939 William was recalled to his former regiment. He was killed in action on Saturday, 10th June 1944 whilst serving as Serjeant 2733778 3rd Battalion., Welsh Guards. He was aged 28, and left a widow, Edna Agnes Heap, of Grays, whom he had married on 4th February 1940. He was buried in grave III D 12 at Bolsena War Cemetery in Italy (midway between Rome and Siena).