Son of Jacobus Ignatius and Susanna Louisa (nee Erwee) Heyns, who farmed just outside Brandfort on a farm called Swaargekrygen. His mother died when he was quite young, and his father re-married in 1935, and his half brother was born in 1937. ref. 85 years of SAAF
LG Sup 7 June 1951 pg. 3097 - "King's birthday"