1

William Heron was born in Wishaw, Scotland. He resided in South Transcona prior to his enlistment in the armed service and worked as a Clerk at the Transcona Shops. He was a well known athlete and played for the Grand Trunk Pacific during the season of 1914 and in the forward line of the Knox Football Club in the league season and cup engagements of 1915. He was also a member of the Car Department football team.

Pte. William Heron volunteered to bear the King's uniform in battle in July 1915. He enlisted with W. E. Roberts of South Transcona in the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He left for England in August 1915 and was then stationed at Shorncliffe. He served with the grenade section of the 43rd Battalion Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)

2

William Heron of South Transcona
4 October 1916
South Transcona, Transcona, Manitoba, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


3

An account of the last moments of Pte. Heron
1916
France
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Transcona Times

4

Pte. William Heron was killed in action on Wednesday, 4th October 1916, age twenty. In a letter to Pte. William Heron's father, his comrade gave an account of how Pte. Heron fell:

"It was on the afternoon of October 4 that it happened. Will and I were in charge of a large party carrying ammunition and bombs to the front line. I don't know whether the Germans saw us or not, but they simply poured a shower of high explosive shells and shrapnel all around, and we got scattered pretty bad. William was standing in the trench as cool as anything, talking to an officer, just the same as if nothing was happening, when a shell came right into the trench. He was killed outright and five others were wounded. Your son was a favorite with all the boys. He was always so cool and ready to help everybody under the heaviest fire or out in the billets. Three other fellows and I carried his body away behind the firing line to a small British cemetery, and there we laid it to rest."

5

The continuing story of how Pte. Heron was killed in action
1916
France
TEXT ATTACHMENT


Credits:
Transcona Times

6

In recognition of his supreme sacrifice and service to King and Country, William Heron's name was memorialized on the Cenotaph now located in Memorial Park Circle. It also appears on an Honour Roll hanging in Transcona Memorial United Church.