Description
Distinguished Conduct Medal, QSA, 5 bars, KSA, 2 bars, 1914-15 Star Trio, Company Sergeant Major John Elliott Henderson, 6th Border Regiment, former 1st in Boer War.
A Scotsman and former Boer War Veteran who returned to his old regiment at the age of 40 to fight in WW1.
He landed at Suvla Bay in August 1915 and fought and led his men as Company Sergeant Major with great distinction.
Following the evacuation, he was awarded the DCM for his service.
He saw further service in France receiving a gun shot shell wound on 30th September 1916 when the 6th Battalion was being heavily shelled.
DCM Officially impressed: “5167 C.S. Mjr J. E. Henderson. 6/Bord: R.”
QSA officially impressed: “5560 Pte J. E. Henderson. 1st Border Regt”
KSA officially impressed: “5560 Pte J. E. Henderson. Border Regt.”
1914-15 Star officially impressed: “5167 Sjt J. E. Henderson Bord: R.”
Pair officially impressed: “5167 W.O. CL. 2. J. E. Henderson. Bord. R.”
All medals and clasps confirmed on the rolls.
Also mentioned in despatches 13th July 1916 Page 6949.
A rare Gallipoli award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, awarded in the 3rd June 1916 Birthday Honours:
“For consistent good work and devotion to duty. He has shown ability and a good power of leading.”
Annotated DCM lists records it was an award for his good service in the Dardanelles theatre, where the 6th Border Regiment saw extensive fighting before the withdrawal.
Warrant Officer and Company Sergeant Major John Elliot Henderson was born circa 1874 in Central Glasgow, Lanarkshire Scotland.
The son of Robert and Lucy Isabella (Grant).
He lived most of his life in Edinburgh. But as a young boy he had moved to Canada with his family, living in Toronto for 17 years from 1880-1897.
He was a frequent visit to Canada, returning after the war was over to visit his brother R.J. Henderson.
When he was about 26 years old he fought in the Boer War, with the 1st Border Regiment.
He fought throughout the war with First Battalion The Border Regiment.
After the end of the war, his KSA roll notes he was posted over to the 2nd Battalion in India.
In WW1, a now 40 year old Henderson rejoins his old regiment to fight.
Joining the 6th Service Battalion of the Border Regiment, raised in Carlisle during August 1914 to fight with the New Army.
He arrived with the original contingent that was sent from Liverpool to Gallipoli on 1st July 1915.
They arrived near Lala Baba at Suvla Bay on 6-7th August 1915, Medal Index Card records his entry into the 2B Balkans Theatre (Gallipoli) on 18th July 1915.
According to his medal issue rolls, he also saw service during his time as Warrant Officer with the 8th Battalion East Lancs (number 32493), again with the 6th Border Regiment and also the 11th Border Regiment.
During his time in France with the 6th Border Regiment, he was admitted into hospital on 30th September 1916, having received a gun shot shell wound to the left thigh.
Seems to have been a bad wound as he was not discharged until 31th May 1917 from the County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury.
After the war was over, he returned to being a Postal Man and Clerk in Edinburgh.
He took the chance after demobilisation to travel to Canada, where he had frequently visited before the war, to visit his Brother.
He later died in Edinburgh during 1942.
