Alexander Cairns

Born in Glasgow in 1918, he was a lorry driver before he joined the King;s Own Scottish Borderers in September 1939. He was transferred to the 8th Battalion DLI in December 1939 and served throughout the Second World War.

On 21 May 1940 at Warlus, near Arras, he gained the Military Medal when, despite being wounded and under attack from the air, he used his anti-tank gun to assist a company of 8 DLI.

On 6 June 1942 near Gazala in North Africa, he gained the Distinguished Conduct Medal when he led a Carrier attack on an Italian position "with such dash and determination that 10 officers, 200 men and a number of anti-tank guns were captured".

Sergeant Cairns later fought in Sicily and Normandy.

He was one of only three DLI soldiers who won both the DCM and MM during the Second World War.