Major John 'Chips' Heron MC, No.5 Commando

John Golding 'Chips' Heron, MC, was the much respected and admired OC of 3 Troop, No.5 Commando. Commissioned into the Sherwood Foresters, John Heron then transferred to 4th(TA)Bn Dorsets. In 1939 he transferred into 2nd (Regular) Bn as the only TA officer, being awarded his Military Cross on 27 May 1940 at Le Bassee (see below). Later that year he transferred to Army Commandos where he joined No5 Cdo.

He was awarded his MC for his gallantry on 27th May 40 at Le Bassee, France whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Dorsets. At one point they were surrounded by Germans. Chips recalled: " We had two Bren Carriers which were surrounded by Huns in heavily armoured Mark IV tanks. In the end, as soon as it was light, someone knocked off one of their tanks, creating a gap and we all got through the lines."
The citation for his award was rather more informative noting that: Heron volunteered to man the Bren-gun Carriers, which were loaded with ammunition, counter-attacked and broke out through the Germans. It was for this gallant sortie, and for his leadership generally throughout the campaign that Heron, then a Captain, was decorated.

[Photos and information courtesy of Chips' niece Judith Stride, and his son Max heron, posted by Nick Collins]