John William Henderson AM

b. 06/09/1872 Sunderland. d. 05/01/1955 Sunderland. 

DATE OF AM ACTION: 24/04/1912 Delhi, India.

John was the eldest of seven children of William and Jane Henderson of the St Paul’s District of Gateshead. John enlisted with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and served in the Boer War in South Africa. On the 18th October 1906 he married Lucy Bell in Newcastle, and they had three children, George, Robert and Lucy. The next part of John’s miltary career was spent in India where he was awarded the AM. He received his medal in Lucknow on 1st January 1913. He then served in World War I before being demobilised in 1919. He returned then to his native north east and settled in Sunderland.

 

AM CITATION:

The KING has been pleased to approve of the Albert Medal of the Second Class being conferred upon Colour-Sergeant John William Henderson, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, in recognition of his gallantry in saving life on the occasion of an explosion at the Laboratory, Delhi Fort, on the 24th April, 1912, when at imminent risk to his own life from further shell explosions he entered the premises and rescued a Lascar, after which he returned to the danger zone to render further aid if possible.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: BISHOPWEARMOUTH CEMETERY, BISHOPWEARMOUTH, COUNTY DURHAM.

24CC 354

LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.