Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Alan Justin Henderson, known as Jack, was the youngest son of Arthur Chillas and Clara Jane (née Hallam) Henderson. He was born on 5 June 1890 at Invercargill. Scottish-born Arthur married his English-born wife married in 1867 in London. Two sons were born at Wanganui, New Zealand in 1871 and 1872, the first-born dying there in 1872. By 1873 Arthur and Clara were in Invercargill where five more sons and eight daughters were born. Alan was educated at Invercargill South School and Southland Boys’ High School (1904-1905).

Alan enlisted on 28 August 1915 at Trentham. He was a bank clerk for the Bank of New Zealand at Timaru. Single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs A. C. Henderson, care of A. S. Henderson, Bank of New Zealand, Dunedin. (A. S. Henderson was Alan’s eldest surviving brother - Arthur Silverstone Henderson.) He was already serving with the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles. Private A. J. Henderson embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the 8th Reinforcements on 13 November 1915. At the annual meeting of the Timaru Tennis Club on 26 September 1916, it was noted in the report that the Roll of Honour of the Club included one member who had been killed in action and twenty-one others who were on active service, A. J. Henerson among them. Alan Henderson was discharged on 22 October 1918, no longer physically fit for War Service on account of illness contracted on Active Service (Trench Fever). He had served in Egypt and Western Europe.

Alan Henderson married Isobel Clara Emma Grinlinton in 1921. They had one daughter, Miriam Justine Henderson, known as Justine. Alan Justin Henderson died on 23 June 1952 at Christchurch, aged 62 years. After a service at St John’s Anglican Church, Leeston, he was buried in Ellesmere Public Cemetery. Isobel died in 1960 and was buried with him. His father, a barrister and solicitor, died at his Invercargill residence, on 27 June 1903, and his mother died at Christchurch on 17 September 1930. Alan’s brother Guy Hallam Henderson served in World War One, also enlisting while he was resident in Timaru. Three other brothers were listed on the Reserve Rolls – Arthur Silverthorne Henderson, a bank officer at

Greytown; Ernest Hallam Henderson at Lyttelton; and Geoffrey Chillas Henderson at Invercargill.

“The death occurred at Leeston this week of Mr Alan Justin Henderson, at the age of 62. Mr Henderson was born at Invercargill. He entered the service of the Bank of New Zeeland in 1907, and was transferred from Ashburton to the Leeston branch in 1920. On retiring from the bank about 18 months ago, he continued to live in Leeston. As a singer Mr Henderson was associated with many musical activities in the Ellesmere district. He was one of the founders of the Ellesmere Musical Society, a past president, and was prominent in all the activities of the society. He was one of the most active members of St, John’s Anglican Church at Leeston. He served on the vestry and was for many years choirmaster. He was also an executive member of the Leeston Horticultural Society, a playing member of the Ellesmere Golf Club, and the Leeston Tennis Club, and took a keen interest in other sports. He served overseas in the First World War. He is survived by his widow and one daughter.” [Press. 26 June 1952.]

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [26 May 2024]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [28 May 2024]; Ellesmere Public Cemetery records [28 May 2024]; School records [28 May 2024]; Southland Times, 29 June 1903, Timaru Herald, 27 September 1916, Press, 24 & 26 June 1952 (Papers Past) [26 & 28 May 2024]

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.