HENDERSON, Robert
| Service Number: | 2624 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Scotland, 1 November 1876 |
| Home Town: | Waikerie, Loxton Waikerie, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Schooled in Scotland and England |
| Occupation: | Builder / Carpenter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 9 December 1916, aged 40 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bancourt British Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Waikerie War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 2624, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 2624, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Adelaide | |
| 9 Dec 1916: | Involvement Corporal, 2624, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2624 awm_unit: 32nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-12-09 |
Help us honour Robert Henderson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography
Robert HENDERSON was born in 1st of November, 1876 in Scotland. Raised by his mother, Elizabeth HENDERSON, they moved to London. 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 street and was known for his good quality work. He had completed building his home and a new Police station and Court house in 1915 and more work was opening to him.
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! 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. Back in Waikerie Bobs letters were still arriving at the end of January 1917 when his name was seen in the casualty lists in the newspaper. This was how people in Waikerie found themselves in shock that they had lost such a solid citizen and good friend.
Bobs last letter was published in the paper. In 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!
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.
Bob is also commemorated with a tree and plaque in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
Click images to start slideshow.