Alex Heron

Alex was born on the 1st May 1919 in Ibrox in Glasgow. He served in the Cameron Highlanders as a Private for 7 years.

He recalls: “5 August, 1937, that was when I enlisted. I joined up for seven and five...seven years and five months. I’ve got my medals – the African Star and two defence medals.”

Alex said goodbye to his family not realising he would not see them again until the end of the war in 1945.  After training in Catterick camp and spending a year in India, the next stop was Egypt, the Western Desert, where Alex and his comrades fought from 1939 to 1942. They were called the ‘Desert Rats’. It was in Tobruk that Alex was captured and became prisoner of war for three and a half years.

Alex joined Howden’s Engineering Company in Kinning Park within two weeks of arriving home where he would work until he retired 40 years later.

Now living in The Erskine Home in Bishopton for nearly five years Alex enjoys meeting and entertaining many of our visitors.  Alex is a natural storyteller and a convivial host taking great delight in proudly showing off his room.  His ever expanding scrapbooks of newspaper cuttings and photographs are a testament to this.