Captain George Stuart Henderson VC, DSO and Bar, MC (Manchester Regiment)

[Bruce Brown]

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We hope this finds you all well and would like to bring you up to date with the Henderson VC memorial project.   

We expected a decision by Scottish Borders Council Planning Department by 26th March; unfortunately, this was delayed but finally granted on 14th May after a further detailed submission.

After being presented to Mrs Elspeth Woods-Ballard (Captain Henderson's niece) for inspection, the Sandblast Sign Company in Barking, Ipswich despatched the 1.5 tonne memorial (complete with VC paver and plaque) to Gordon where it was received on 31st March and placed in storage.

Work has commenced, whereby the site has been cleared/levelled and a block-paved area is being prepared to accommodate the memorial.  Our gratitude goes to our local contractors who are giving freely of their time and equipment to install the memorial for the Community.

As previously mentioned, we are holding an OFFICIAL COMMEMORATIVE UNVEILING of Captain Henderson's memorial just outside Gordon on what would be the 101st anniversary of the action at Hillah, Saturday 24th July 2021.  We look forward to WELCOMING ALL WHO CAN ATTEND and please let us know if you can come so we are sufficiently prepared to offer you some hospitality for your support in the campaign.

The event will start at 2.30pm approximately.  Please also take time on your visit to perhaps visit the church to view the plaque and war memorials. All day, refreshment will be available in the Gordon Arms and café.

By kind permission of Mr and Mrs Fullerton, there will also be an opportunity to visit East Gordon Farm, Captain Henderson's birthplace.

Many thanks again and we look forward to meeting you.

Gordon and Westruther Community Council
TD3 6JU

[0285Braithy31]

Thank you Timberman,
Noted and will view real soon.
Graham

[0285Braithy31]

The Manchester Branch of the 'LANCS', KING'S & MANCHESTER REGIMENT attended the memoial service on Saturday, one of the best organised services I'd been too of all of the Manchester Regt VC Memorials, uncluttered and beautifully read, thank you Major Owen of D Company 4 LANCS, and Sgt Murphy with Kingsman Bowen, and a really good turnout of the villagers, which included The Lady Lord Lieutenant Jeanna Swan and many others including members of SSAFA.
Well organised and a pleasure to be there, well done Bruce Brown and the rest of the team for organising and arranging the day with the refreshments afterwards.

[Bruce Brown]

We in Gordon and Westruther communities would like to thank The Manchester Standard Bearers, Old Comrades, the Duke of Lancaster's as well as all who attended on Saturday, for helping us to commemorate this great soldier.  It was a very moving occasion attended by so many from afar as well as the many locals who turned out in the warm sunshine surrounded by our stunning Border countryside.

Our thanks also go to those who officiated and participated; those who gave freely of th//eir time to install the memorial here on the road to East Gordon, Henderson's birthplace.

To see for yourself what a memorable occasion it was, please view the gallery of photographs taken on the day by our photographer.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/101178320@N08/1n5x95