DEATH OF A SOLDIER
(BYI TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.)
DUNEDIN, 20th November. Pte. Thomas Heffernan, of South Dunedin, died in the hospital this afternoon. He left the Dominion with the Southland section of the 22nd Reinforcements, and saw service in France. On the eve of the Messines battle he had a severe attack of bronchitis, and after spending some time in hospital in England and France returned to New Zealand about two months ago. About a fortnight ago he had to go into the hospital, where he died under an operation for an internal complaint. Deceased was 35 years old. -Evening Post, 21/11/1917.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
Friends of Rifleman Thomas Heffernan are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will will leave the South Dunedin Hotel. No. 244 King-Edward street, Dunedin, TO-MORROW (Friday), November 23rd inst., at 2.30 o’clock, for the Southern Catholic Cemetery.
A. S. ARCHER AND CO., Undertakers, 219 George street. -Evening Star, 22/11/1917.
The remains of Rifleman Thomas Heffernan were interred at the Southern Cemetery with military honors this afternoon. The deceased, who was 35 years of age went to the war with the 22nd Reinforcements, returned invalided bv the hospital ship that last reached New Zealand, and died whilst under an anaesthetic administered for the purpose of an operation. The Rev. Father Graham conducted the burial service. Captain Myers (A.A.G.) and Major Fleming represented the Defence Office, and Captain McGuigan, deceased's brother-in-law, was also present. Returned soldiers provided the firing party and acted as pall-bearers. A very large number of returned men and the public attended the funeral. -Evening Star, 23/11/1917.
Thomas Heffernan died either from the result of a number of hydatid cysts or complications of the operation which was undertaken to remove them, which had been present in his lung and liver for as long as 20 years. It seems the bronchitis which took him out the the Battle of Messines led to the diagnosis of hydatids - his medical records refer to an X-ray diagnosis and coughing up blood, possibly as the result of a cyst bursting. He was invalided home as quickly as possible in the "Maheno" and enrolled as an out-patient at Dunedin Hospital.
His records include a report on the operation which ended his life. "Palpable tumor in upper abdomen moving on resperation." It goes on to say "Large hydatid cyst liver opened, emptied and irrigated...at this stage patient collapsed, could not be resucitated."
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