Author Topic: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)  (Read 4358 times)

Offline Bruce Brown

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Gentlemen and Ladies,

As Secretary of the Gordon and Westruther Community Council in the Scottish Borders,  I am writing to you to hopefully enlist your support in establishing a permanent memorial to the bravery of Captain George Henderson VC, of the Manchester Regiment, probably the most famous son of our community, here in the village of Gordon.  Our chairman, Douglas Tweedie, has already raised the issue in the local newspaper "The Southern Reporter"

Part of the UK Government’s national WW1 Centenary Commemoration Campaign was the Victoria Cross Paving Stones program-an initiative which would see commemorative paving stones laid at places of significance for the 628 British servicemen who received the highest military honour for courage while in contact with the enemy.  The WW1 centenary is now passed but why should the program end there?  There have been VC's won in conflicts since the Great War and it is fitting that stones continue to be laid on the centenary of their award. Captain Henderson served with distinction in WW1 but was awarded his VC (posthumously) in Mesopotamia in 1920. There is strong feeling he should be commemorated in Gordon, the village of his birth by laying a commemorative flag/paving stone as afforded to many of his VC comrades throughout the nation.

Our Chairman, Douglas Tweedie, is still in contact with Captain Henderson's descendants, who are keen to support the project and have already offered funds. We are actively seeking further funding from the government via John Lamont MP, Scottish Borders Council as well as possibly crowd funding through the local community, to site a memorial to what is probably Gordon’s most famous son and possibly Scotland’s most highly decorated officer. We are hoping to achieve this by Remembrance Sunday in November.

Any support former Manchesters could give would be greatly received through crowd-funding. (link to be created!)

Thanks for listening and look forward to maybe hearing back from some of you.

Kindest regards,
Bruce Brown

Offline Bruce Brown

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2020, 06:36:42 PM »
Dear All,

We have now established the GoFundMe website for donations for a memorial for Captain Henderson should you so wish.

It is: https://gf.me/u/yxg9jm

Kind regards,
Bruce Brown (Secretary)
Gordon and Westruther Community Council

Offline mack

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2020, 11:32:45 AM »
captain henderson is listed on eight war memorials that i know of,but what surprises me is hes not on the scottish national war memorial,hes one of scotlands highest decorated soldiers

mack

Offline Bruce Brown

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2020, 12:19:26 PM »
Mack,
Very good point; I don't know why that isn't so but I will be writing to them regarding this omission and will let you know the outcome.
Thanks for pointing that out!
Bruce

Offline Bruce Brown

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2020, 02:59:47 PM »
The answer from the Scottish National War Memorial:

"Thank you for your email.  Captain Henderson will not have been included in the original Rolls of Honour for the Scottish National War Memorial as he died outside the official end date of World War One with signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty on 28 June 1919.  However, I have recently revised these “eligibility criteria” for inclusion in the Rolls of Honour to mirror the dates the Commonwealth War Graves Commission use for the First World War; 4 Aug 1914 – 31 Aug 1921, and so he now falls within our criteria.
Proof of his Scottish Heritage, by an electronic copy of a Birth certificate. would be the final documentary evidence I would require to include his name in our Rolls of Honour.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Yours sincerely, 
Lt Col (Retd)"


I will get in touch with George Henderson's descendants......

Offline mack

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2020, 08:57:52 PM »
hiya bruce
whoever it was who sent you the reply from the SNWM obviously doesnt know what hes talking about,the memorial is for servicemen from all conflicts from WW1,to the present day,the latest being cpl lovatt who died last year,AND he was born in england.

mack

Offline Bruce Brown

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2020, 10:53:10 AM »
Good morning,

Pleased to report that Captain Henderson has now been added to Scottish National War Memorial. Good to see him listed with his comrades from the Manchester Regiment.

"I have added Captain Henderson’s name to the Roll of Honour.
As my colleague explained, we have added him to our electronic database and I have attached a page extract so that you can see what the page will look like when we next reprint the Rolls of Honour.
I would also mention that we upload new names to the searchable database a couple of times a year, so again, this will be available in due course.
Thank you for helping us to ensure the Rolls of Honour are as complete as possible.
Kind regards,
Mary-Clare Macfarlane
Assistant Secretary"

Offline mack

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2020, 11:32:06 AM »
well done bruce

mack

Offline Bruce Brown

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2020, 06:44:09 PM »
Dear All,
We are so pleased and grateful to report our GoFundMe for Captain Henderson's memorial has now passed the £2000 mark.  After 100 years since the award, it is most encouraging and touching how so many people, from different backgrounds, have given to honour his bravery and sacrifice. We would like to thank you all, wherever you are, for your marvellous support, especially in these increasingly challenging times.

We originally set out to have the memorial in place in Gordon, Berwickshire, to mark the centenary; however, as you are probably already aware, Remembrance Day ceremonies may be severely curtailed this year due to restrictions of public assembly.  We have not yet received official confirmation from Scottish Borders Council about what will, and will not, be permitted.  We have therefore decided to postpone the official unveiling of the memorial to Saturday 24th July 2021 - exactly 101 years on.  Many people have indicated their desire to attend such a ceremony so delaying it somewhat will enable more people from further afield to plan ahead. By next summer there will, hopefully, be more free movement, better weather and the chance to explore/savour the beautiful Border countryside around us, making it an even more memorable occasion.

This also gives our stonemason more time to perfect the memorial.  The granite half boulder has already been reserved and the community will have additional time to decide on the best site and setting within the village.

In the meantime, please stay in touch, stay safe from Covid and please share our cause (https://gf.me/u/yxg9jm) with all who may be interested in commemorating, not only our brave local hero but also a nationally revered, outstanding professional soldier. 

Kindest regards,
On behalf of Gordon and Westruther Community Council
Bruce Brown
(Secretary)

Offline Bruce Brown

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Re: Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)
« Reply #9 on: February 04, 2021, 07:41:52 PM »
Dear Friends and Supporters. 

Apologies for the delay in giving you all an update regarding Captain Henderson’s proposed VC memorial but things seem to take so much longer under the current unfortunate circumstances.

We are pleased though to report that the memorial is still being worked by the Sandblast Sign Company in Barking, Ipswich. The VC paver is ready and the half boulder is being recessed to take the paver as well as a 150 x 370mm stainless steel plaque which carries an inscription of Captain Henderson’s outstanding service.  The wording has been proposed by his family.  Once complete, it is hoped the memorial can be delivered to temporary safe storage near Gordon, pending approval of the Planning Application by Scottish Borders Council.

The planning application has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council for approval.  The site we are now proposing is on the road from Gordon to George Henderson’s old home at East Gordon, on the verge at the turn-off to Anchorhill.  There is already a safe pathway on the roadside all the way out of the village to this point.  People can wander out there from the village; if our budget can rise to a bench, they can sit and reflect on his sacrifice, admire the view (East Gordon, Hume Castle and the Eildons are all visible from there). Clearly visible from the main road, the passing traffic can always safely pull off into the side road should they wish to visit the memorial.

More details and photographs of the site are under the documents tab associated with the planning application (21/00132/FUL).
https://eplanning.scotborders.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=QNMSRANTKG100

The proposal was also mentioned on BBC Radio Scotland under the Borders news!  We are still keeping our fingers crossed that the application will be looked on favourably and well supported by public and councillors alike.  We also look forward to being able to organise a small ceremony on 24th July should current restrictions be eased.

In the meantime, please look after yourselves; God Bless and thank you all again for your support.

Kindest regards,
Bruce Brown
Gordon and Westruther Community Council

Offline 0285Braithy31

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I can confirm that the Manchester Branch of the Old Comrades will attend for the ceremony, at least 2 Standards have been cleaned and 3 others ex-Mancheters will also be going (Covid permitting), Standards cleaned and polished ready, its a shame it has to be at the road junction and not at the side of the old Town Hall which I think would be more fitting (A personal preference).

We have been in touch with the organisors and contributed and will be attending 23rd July 2021 on the 101st Anniversary

Graham
Not forgetting the other 133 men listed with George Henderson and died that day... (CWGC)

Offline mack

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hiya braithy
theres a complete list of all those who died plus a couple who died later,it includes all their addresses

use our search engine and type in. hillah 24th july 1920

mack ;D

Offline artyhughes

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The award of the Victoria Cross to Captain G S Henderson VC in 1920 I believe it was the only VC awarded between the armistice and the outbreak of WW11.

Offline Timberman

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 Hi

Wiki says that between the wars 10 VC were awarded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Victoria_Cross_recipients_by_campaign

Augustus Agar
HM Coastal Motor Boat 4
North Russia Relief Force
17 June 1919   Kronstadt, Russia

Arthur Sullivan
Royal Fusiliers
North Russia Relief Force
10 August 1919   Sheika River, Russia

Claude Dobson
HM Coastal Motor Boat 31
North Russia Relief Force
18 August 1919   Kronstadt, Russia

Gordon Steele
HM Coastal Motor Boat 88
North Russia Relief Force
18 August 1919   Kronstadt, Russia

Samuel Pearse
Royal Fusiliers
North Russia Relief Force
29 August 1919*   Emtsa, Russia

Henry Andrews
Indian Medical Service
Waziristan Campaign
22 October 1919*   Khajuri, Waziristan

William Kenny
39th Garhwal Rifles
Waziristan Campaign
2 January 1920*   Kot Kai, Waziristan

Ishar Singh
28th Punjab Regiment
Waziristan Campaign
10 April 1921   Haidari Kach, Waziristan

George Henderson
Manchester Regiment
Arab Revolt
24 July 1920*   Hillah, Mesopotamia

Godfrey Meynell
12th Frontier Force Regiment
Second Mohmand Campaign
29 September 1935*   Mamund Valley, India

 Neil

Offline artyhughes

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Thank you Timberman,I live and learn.