Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Lt.-Col. Alexander Robert Heron, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.R.D., and Margaret Heron, of Brisbane, Queensland.

IN LOVING MEMORY FROM HIS FAMILY

Robert Allensleigh Heron was born on the 16th of September 1912, in Bowen, Queensland to Alexander and Margaret Heron. His Alexander was a Lieutenant Colonel who fought with distinction during the Great War and served in the Second World War in training roles. Robert’s middle name comes from the name of the family property “Allensleigh”, which the Heron family owned in Bowen, Queensland.

Walter was a salesman for Nestles Ltd when he decided to enlist into the army on the 9th of October 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War a month prior. Enlisting as a Private, Robert was promoted to Corporal in May 1940, Lance Sergeant in September 1940 and then to acting Sergeant in October 1940 shortly before deploying to the Middle East in late December 1940 with the 2/9 Battalion.

In August 1941 he attended the Officer Cadet Training Unit in the Middle East, promoting to Lieutenant in December 1941. Robert re-joined the 2/9 Battalion in January 1941 shortly before it returned to Australia in March 1942. In August 1942 he then re-deployed to New Guinea with the 2/9 Battalion. During the New Guinea campaign at Milne Bay, he sustained a gun shot wound to the head and shoulder in September 1942.

After recovering from his wounds in Australia, he returned to New Guinea where he was killed in action on the 18th of December 1942. The Bowen Independent wrote an obituary, which was published on Tuesday 19th of January 1943, page 2 –

            “Roll of Honour, Lieutenant R. A Heron.

Lieutenant R A Heron, recently killed in action somewhere in New Guinea, was the eldest son of Colonel A R Heron, CMG, DSO, VD. “Bob,” as he was popularly known, was born in Bowen and received his education at the Bowen State School and Brisbane Grammar. Whilst the latter School, he distinguished himself as a swimmer of some class, being runner up for the senior championship swim. On leaving school he joined the staff of Nestles Ltd and was on the road for great promotion when war broke out. He enlisted early in 1940 and after receiving his initial training sailed for England where he saw service for six months. He entered a school for NCO’s and was later promoted to Sergeant. On leaving England he was transferred to the Middle East, and saw service in Tobruk, Benghazi and Egypt. On entering a school of instruction for officers he was later promoted to the rank of first Lieutenant. On returning to Australia in 1942 he was posted to New Guinea and received a serious wound in the battle of Milne Bay. He was invalided home to Australia where he remained in hospital until late in 1942, finally returning to New Guinea. Shortly after his return he was again in the thick of the fight to clear Papua of the Japanese and then came the sad news of his death on active service. The deepest sympathy is extended to his parents in the loss of so gallant a son and brother and his name will go down in history along with others who gave all they have in order that the generations that are to come may live in peace. Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for a friend.”

He was buried at Port Morsby War Cemetery in New Guinea (now Papua New Guinea. In June 1943, he was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches for his exceptional services in the field in the Southwest Pacific Area. 

References-

·         Biography - Alexander Robert Heron - Australian Dictionary of Biography

·         Trove NLA Website

·         NAA Website

·         AWM Website

S Cox, PM, January 2025