Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Henry James Henderson, who was born on 14 November 1889 at Geraldine, was the fourth son of Irish-born John and Mary (née McCann) Henderson. He was known as Harry. Along with his six brothers and one sister, he was educated at Kakahu Bush School.

He enlisted on 29 July 196 at Trentham. A farmer at Douglas, Waimate, single and Roman Catholic, he named his father, John Henderson, Kakahu Bush, South Canterbury, as next-of-kin. Sergeant H. J. Henderson embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade of the 13th Reinforcements, leaving from Wellington for Plymouth, England, on 15 November 1916 per the “Maunganui”. Corporal Henry Henderson’s name appeared in casualty lists in late October 1917. He had been wounded on 12 October. A few weeks later his was reported as a severe case.

He embarked at Avonmouth on 6 April 1918, to return to New Zealand by the “Marama” (Draft 159). “Private [sic] Henderson, of Kakahu (who returned to New Zealand by the same transport as Privates Anderson and Prestige, but who left the boat at Auckland, to go into the hospital at Rotorua), arrived at Temuka yesterday, and was met and welcomed by Messrs Gunnion and Street. He is suffering from the effects of a bullet wound in the arm and side, and the bullet has not yet been extracted from his side. He was in the Walton-on-Thames Hospital. Private W. Hobbs being in the next bed to him. The latter was in good heart, and sent a cheery message to Mr Gunnion.” [Temuka Leader. 25 May 1918.]

Henry James Henderson married Caroline Bean in 1921. He died on 29 November 1973 at Waimate, aged 84 years, and was buried in the Waimate Lawn Cemetery, where a services plaque marks his grave. Caroline who died in 2003 at the age of 104, was buried alongside him. They were survived by a son and three daughters. His mother Mary who died in 1927 and his father John in 1935, were buried at Geraldine. Two of Harry’s brothers served in World War One – Edward and John (48858).

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [30 September 2022]; School Admission record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [30 September 2022]; Waimate Lawn Cemetery headstone images & burial records (Waimate District Council) [30 September 2022]; Temuka Leader, 30 October 1917, 25 May 1918, Evening Post, 10 November 1917, 4 May 1918, Timaru Herald, 7 May 1918 (Papers Past) [01 & 30 September 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.