Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Alexander Barbour HERON and Susie Henrietta nee HOLLAND

Husband of Margaret HERON nee BOLGER

Mention in Despatches

Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 30706 (28 May 1918); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 165 (24 October 1918).
 

Mention in Despatches

Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 31089 (31 December 1918); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61 (23 May 1919).

Mention in Despatches

Awarded, and gazetted, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 30448 (28 December 1917); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 (18 April 1918).
 

Mention in Despatches

Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 31448 (11 July 1919); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 124 (30 October 1919).

Distinguished Service Order

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company to the relief of a battalion through extremely heavy shell fire, with great success and very few casualties. Throughout the operations, although under heavy barrage, he kept in touch and sent back information to his battalion headquarters. His skill and devotion contributed largely to the successful holding of our line, and throughout the whole period in the trenches his work has been consistently thorough.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 219
Date: 20 December 1917
 

CMG

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109
Date: 15 September 1919

Missing Man's
Body Found
The body of Alexander Robert Heron, 60, married, of Hinton Street, East Brisbane, was found in a vacant allotment off Little Bennet Road, Norman Park, this Saturday afternoon. Heron, who was a disabled war veteran, had been missing since he left a Returned Servicemen's League meeting at East Brisbane at 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The body was found  by some children who were playing in long grass in a vacant allotment. Police say there are no suspicious circumstances. Heron was a colonel in the 47th Battalion in the second World War and a lieutenant-colonel in the 1914-18 War.

ALEXANDER ROBERT HERON
The late Colonel Alexander Robert Heron, D.S.O., V.D., who passed away in Brisbane last week, was born at Charters Towers in 1888 and arrived in Bowen as an infant in arms.  His father then established the well-known Heron’s Pharmacy in Herbert Street. He commenced his education at the Bowen State School, mid later completed his schooling at the Brisbane Grammer School. Afterleaving that college, he assisted in the working of Allensleigh, the family country home, and later studied to become a chemist. He was apprenticed to his father, and continued in that occupation until the outbreak of the first World War. 

In the early part of the century he had taken an active part in local military  training as a member of the 15th Australian Light Horse, and had been promoted to First Lieutenant in 1913. In 1914 he enlisted for active service abroad, and left Australia as a  Captain in the 43ud Battalion. He was promoted to Major in 1917, and was later given Command of the 41st Battalion, in 1917, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. 

He led that Battalion in the Somme drive, and before the battalion manoeuvred across the valley in the assault on Cerisy, he carried out a remarkable 'training'operation. The 41st had to advance its right and centre diagonally across the valley, its left-remaining on the near side. Colonel Heron had his troops practise the operation on similar ground two days before the attack. He stuck up signboards with roads and topographic features marked on them. When the battalion attacked, it did so with a familiarity of the terrain and the  action was fought with, great success.

During his war service he was decorated by the late King George V. with the Distinguished Service Order for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, and was later decorated  with the C.M.G. In addition he was three times mentioned in despatches, by the late Sir Douglas Haig, for outstanding leadership and bravery. At the completion of the war in 1918 he was posted to London to organise and arrange the transfer of Australian troops back to Australia, and was finally, discharged from the A.I.F. and returned to Bowen in 1920.

After the war he completed his studies in chemistry, and took over the business his father had established in 1890, and carried on in that profession until the outbreak of World 
War II in 1939. He enlisted again for active service abroad, and was given command of the 42nd Battalion at Yeppoon, and later of battalions at Goondiwindl and Warwick, having
been promoted to the rank of Colonel.

In 1943 he was given command of Ship’s Staff on the troopship Tarbona, and was engaged in this capacity until January 1940, having durlng this periled been mentioned for his outstanding ability and efficiency.

During his residence in Bowen the late Colonel Heron took an active, interest in every, movement likely to promote the welfare of the district. His activities were always characterised by a thoroughness and determination, without regard to self.

Amongst the various positions he held were: President of the Royal Society of St. George, President of the Kennedy Hospital, and President of the Cycling Club. He was the first President, of the Bowen Sub-branch R.S.S.I.L.A., a position he held until the outbreak of World War II. He was a Trustee of the Scartwater Repatriation Trust, founded by the late A. H. W. Cunningham, and was a tireless worker in the interests of returned men, without regard to creed or social status. The Colonel was a familiar figure on Anzac Day, lending the returned men to the monument to payhomage to fallen comrades. He was the life and soul of the, movement to commemorate the Day, and delivered many stirring orations  at the evening meetings. To help returned diggers to rehabilitate themselves was his foremost thought, and many owed debt of gratitude to him. He will long be remembered by  those whom he helped without thought of repayment.

As a young man he was a cyclist of note, and for a period he and the late W. H. Darwen held sway as district champions, holding the title in alternative fashion.

Colonel Heron was a notable member of the Kennedy Masonic Lodge, occupying the Chair as Wor. Master in 1928; and he was also a member of the Mackenzie Royal Arch  Chapter, being a Past Principal Z, Scribe E, and Most Excellent Companion.   During his Masonic career he completed the 75 years history of the Lodge, which was later copied and put into book form in 1940, this being the year the Lodge achieved its 75th anniversary.

After receiving his discharge from the second world war he lived in retirement in Brisbane, where despite fulling health he continued his interst in the activities of the returned soldiers' organisations, and In fact was returning from a meeting of the East Brisbane branch when he came to his tragic end.

He was accorded military funeral and a noticeable feature was the number of original members of his battalion who preceded the cortege to bis last resting place.
He leaves a wife, two daughters Mrs. R. Steel, of Warwick, and Mrs. c. Tippett of Dalby, a son William ; a dentist at Bundaberg, also a brother and a sister, Mr. K. W. Heron and Mrs. S. Kerr, of Bowen.

His eldest son, Robert, paid the supreme sacrifice against the Japanese at Buna, after having been "mentioned in despatches for leadership and in spiration to his men under fire."

Altogether a man of very strong character, great determination and tremendous energy, an excellent family chemist with a kindly disposition, and a desire to help those genuinely in distress, he was universally respected, and we are certainly the poorer for the passing of men of his calibre.