Corporal Robert HENDERSON
1 Nov 1876 – 9 Dec 1916
Robert HENDERSON was born in 1st of November, 1876 in Scotland. Raised by his mother, Elizabeth HENDERSON, they moved to London and later he moved to Australia.
Bob was in business in Waikerie as a carpenter and builder for several years. He owned a block and premises “at the top of” Peake Terrace and in the main (McCoy) street and was known for his good quality work. His business premises was very boldly sign written and Im surethere was little if any doubt as to whose preises it was! He had completed building his home and a new Police station and Court house in 1915 and more work was opening to him.
Recently when the old Police station was being refurbished, a number of cigarette packets and a ticket to the Loxton Show all still in very good condition were located. These had been left there during construction possibly by Bob.
It was reported that:- . “He owned a block and premises in the main street and was steadily forging ahead by patient, plodding, faithful hard work.”
It was reported that for months before he enlisted he had made up his mind to help the Australian War Effort if he could. He was greatly disappointed when he went up for enlistment examination and the doctor turned him down on account of defective vision. Not satisfied with that, he took the weekly car to Adelaide, and arriving on a Saturday night 27-1-16, immediately attended the recruitment centre and within half an hour he had been passed as fit!
After his death the newspaper reported:- He “took the car to Adelaide, and arriving on Saturday night within half an hour he had been passed as fit. The medical officer saw a man worth while and winked at the defect.”
Returning on the Monday he began at once to wind up his business, he called a sale, disposed of his stock and let his premises, made his will and was in camp at Mitcham on January 31, 1916.
After completing training, Bob sailed for Egypt on March 25th. He was posted to the 32nd Infantry Battalion, and was sent to France via England. There he joined the Battalion which was committed to the front for the first time on 16 July 1916.
Three days after taking up position in the trenches the 32nd took part in the fighting around Fromelles during which it suffered 718 casualties—which equalled roughly 90 percent of its effective strength — a third of the battalion’s total casualties for the entire war! The Battalion was withdrawn to be rebuilt.
For a week in September 1916, Bob was sent to Engineering School. He returned to the unit and on 20th of October 1916 he was made a Lance Corporal. On the 4th of December 1916 Bob was promoted to Temporary Corporal when Corporal Dearman was wounded. Five days later, on the 9th of December 1916 leading his men against the enemy, Corporal Robert HENDERSON was killed in action.
Bobs mother in Lambeth, LONDON was advised of his death and understandably, was devastated. Back in Waikerie, Bobs letters were still arriving at the end of January 1917 even on the day when his name was seen in the casualty lists in the newspaper as having been killed in action. This was how people in Waikerie found out and found themselves in shock that they had lost such a solid citizen and good friend.
Bobs last letter was published in the paper. In part of it he said, “And my thoughts when connected with what we call “home” always turn to S. Oss- (South Australia) and not, as one would think to the “old dart.” Bob was indeed an “Aussie” at heart!
The newspaper reported:- “The late Lance Corporal Henderson was a splendid type of man, physically and mentally. Whether as a British workman, a business man,” a public spirited though modest townsman, or as a friend he was admired, respected and held in affectionate regard by all who knew him. He scorned everything mean and unmanly and dared to go his own upright road in scorn of consequence.”
They continued in part… “He went thence to France, and there no doubt he sleeps with thousands of other brave lads “who died that we might live.”
Only 3 or 4 months ago news came through that the Rev. Frank Doley had died of wounds – and now another fine type of a man, modest unassuming, conscientious to a fault. …….. In losing such men Waikerie and the world is poorer. We cannot spare such, but some day we will surely be a better race of men and women or else these brave souls have died in vain, and that is, unthinkable.”
HENDERSON Street in WAIKERIE is named in his honour.
Bob HENDERSON is buried at the Bancourt British War Cemetery in France. He is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour and at the Waikerie World War 1 Honour Board at the Waikerie Soldiers emorial Instituteand at the War Memorial in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
