Andrew Henderson MM
Andrew was born at 11 Sunnyside Rows, Wishaw on 5 Nov 1880, the son of coal miner, Andrew Henderson, and Ann Jack, a twenty eight year old brickfield worker. Ann had previously been married to, and abandoned by another miner, James Chalmers in 1870. Baby Andrew lived with his widowed grandmother, Sarah; his father, Andrew; his uncles Robert, Francis, Thomas and James and his cousins Maggie, Andrew and Robert at 250 Main Street, Cambusnethan.
After leaving school, he worked for the Belhaven Company as an ironworker,
before enlisting in the 14 Battery,Royal Artillery on 23 July 1898.
He was awarded his Army Third Class Certificate of Education in June 1899 and embarked for South Africa on 24 October 1899 where he took part in the Second Boer War. On 15 December 1899, just after his nineteenth birthday, 29025 Gunner A.Henderson commenced active service with the 14th Battery RFA, taking part in the Battle of Colenso.
On 13 February 1900 he joined the 66th Battery RFA and saw action at Tugela Heights and the Relief of Ladysmith. On 27 March 1900 he joined No. 1 Battery RFA.
On 29 July 1900, while serving in South Africa, Andrew's father died at the age of 47 due a cardiac failure caused by alcoholic poisoning.
I've not been able to estabish the nature of the offence, but on 7 September 1900, he committed a crime and the following day was sentenced by Field General Court Martial to 42 days imprisonment.
On 22 October 1901 a second crime was committed and Andrew was sentenced to a further six months imprisonment by FGCM on 25 October 1901. He returned to duty on 25 April 1902.
In October 1902, he embarked for India, where he served with 20th Battery RFA, Dinapore (Allahabad), now known as Prayagraj at the sacred confluence of the Ganges and the Yamuna.
Back in Wishaw, on 19 June 1905 Andrew's Grandmother, Sarah Henderson died at 260 Low Main Street aged 80.
In March 1907, Andrew was awarded his Army First Class Certificate of Education and Acting Schoolmasters Certificate. In September that year, he was commissioned to act as Deputy Grand Chief Templar for the Allahabad District of the International Order of Good Templars.
On 24 February 1909 Posted No. 49th Battery RFA and on 23 July 1910 Camp Irvine, Ayrshire, where he was discharged, on completion of his twelve year engagement.
For the first time in his life, Andrew went to live with his mother and younger brothers William and Frank at 23 East Quarry Street. By now his widowed mother had adopted his father's name, Henderson
Andrew's young sister Annie was 21 and working as a domestic servant. She married William Paterson in the family home, at 23 East Quarry Street on 30 December 1910 after Banns according to the terms of the United Free Church. Ann was named after her grandmother, whose maiden name was Grant.
By 1911 Andrew was working as a smelter and his brothers William and Frank were also working in the steelworks ( 1911 Census return ).
In 1913 Andrew moved to a better paid job in Edinburgh, where he worked for a motor engineering company. (possibly Morris)
The First World War broke out on 28 July 1914 and on 14 Aug 1914, 34 year old Andrew rejoined the Army and served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Field Artillery until 23 Oct 1915 when he was posted to France until 11 June 1916.
He then served at home until 24 May 1917 at which time he returned to France. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in 1917.
(Royal Artillery Military Medal awards 1916 - 1995, Sergeant 650238 A Henderson, Wishaw; London Gazette date: 19 November 1917.)
On 9 April 1918 he was gassed (Source: WO364) and returned home to Catterick Military Hospital until 17 November 1918.
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"Gassed" by John Singer Sargent RA
After being hospitalised for seven months, Andrew returned to active service in France on 11 March 1919. He was wounded on 9 April 1919 and discharged as a result of his injuries.
(I believe he may have been in Seaton, Devon for rehabilitation, where he met my grandmother, Maria Trim.)
Andrew returned to Wishaw where he had been offered back his old job with the Belhaven Company. He was with his mother when she died at 23 Quarry Street on 19 Jun 1919, aged 68.
He married Maria Trim on 20th October 1919, in Seaton, Devon. The Belhaven Company presented him with a clock to commemorate the wedding. Their first son Andrew Charles was born on 28 July 1920, in Northleigh, Devon, close to The New Inn, the home of Maria's parents.
Early in 1923, the family moved to Edinburgh, where Andrew had been offered a job with his old employers. His second son
James Sidney was born in Edinburgh
15 February 1923.Maria's father, Charlie Trim, gave up running the New Inn at Northleigh and returned to his earlier work as a thatcher. He was later admitted to the Devon Mental Health Hospital, Exminster where he died of Arterio Sclerosis on 6 October 1923, aged 58.
They lived initially in Northleigh and later in Southleigh
Hull (or Hele) Lane- Uplyme
"Belhaven", Yawl, Uplyme
Andrew encouraged learning and practical engineering skills in his sons. They were both active in the Boy Scout movement and went to the local Grammar School in Lyme Regis. Although he suffered from indifferent health, he worked as a caretaker for the local waterworks, water bailiff and rural postman.
He was Clerk to the Uplyme Parish Council and friendly with the Chairman, Alban J Woodroffe, who was responsible for the nearby Grammar School in Lyme Regis. As young men, both had worked overseas: my grandfather in South Africa and India and Woodroffe in South America.
Andrew's son "Sid" was killed while serving in the Royal Air Force at Middle Wallop as a wireless operator mechanic on 28 March 1941. The letter on the left, from Rex Woodroffe, was written a few days after Sid's death.
Andrew died a week later on 13 April 1941 at Lyme Regis Hospital.
References
Census - Returns: 1881 — 1891 — British Army Service Records — 1911 — 1939 RegisterGRO References: Birth — Siblings — Marriage — Death — Children
Parents
Andrew Henderson and Ann Chalmers (m.s. Jack)Top
Birth
Birth: 5 Nov 1880
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Siblings
James Henderson b.1882
Matthew Henderson b.1886
Willie Henderson b.1888
Ann Grant Hendeson(Annie Henderson) b.7 September 1889
Frank Henderson b.1891
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Marriage
Andrew Henderson, married
Maria Trim, on
20 October 1919 in the The Parish Church, Seaton
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Children
Andrew Charles Henderson b. 18 Jul 1920 James Sidney Henderson b. 15 Feb 1923
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1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
250, Main Street, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, ScotlandSarah P Henderson Head Married Female 58 1823 House Keeper Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland
Robert Henderson Son Married Male 32 1849 Fireman At Pit Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Andrew Henderson Son Unmarried Male 28 1853 Coal Miner Johnston, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Francis Henderson Son Unmarried Male 22 1859 Fireman At Pit Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Thomas Henderson Son Unmarried Male 19 1862 Pithead Man Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
James Henderson Son Unmarried Male 17 1864 Pithead Man Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Maggie Henderson Granddaughter - Female 5 1876 Scholar Lanarkshire, Scotland
Andrew Henderson Grandson - Male 4 1877 - Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Robert Henderson Grandson - Male 2 1879 - Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Andrew Henderson Grandson - Male 0 1881 - Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Annie McCutcheon Servant Unmarried Female 16 1865 General Domestic Servant Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
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1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Main Street, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, ScotlandSarah Henderson Head Widow Female 66 1825 - Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland
Thomas Henderson Son Unmarried Male 29 1862 Fitter At Nail Works Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
James Henderson Son Unmarried Male 27 1864 Labourer In Ironworks Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
And(rew) Henderson Grandson - Male 10 1881 Scholar Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Quarry Street, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland(Andrew's parents and siblings 1891 Census)
Andrew Henderson Head Married Male 37 1854 Coal Miner Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Ann J Henderson Wife Married Female 37 1854 - Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland
James Henderson Son - Male 9 1882 Scholar Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Matthew Henderson Son - Male 5 1886 Scholar Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
William Henderson Son - Male 3 1888 - Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Annie Henderson Daughter - Female 1 1890 - Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Frank Henderson Son - Male 0 1891 - Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Robert Morrison Boarder Unmarried Male 15 1876 Coal Miner Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland
British Army Service Records 1898 - 1910 South Africa and India
23 July 1898 Enlisted in 14 Battery, Royal Artillery at Glascow Service Number 290258 June 1899 Army Third Class Certificate of Education
24 October 1899 Embarked for South Africa
13 February 1900 66 Battery, RFA
27 March 1900 Posted No. 1 Battery RFA 11 December 1900 Posted No. 49 Battery RFA 7 October 1902 Embarked for India
1 July 1904 Army Second Class Certificate of Education
25 March 1907 29205 Bombardier A Henderson RFA - Army First Class Certificate of Education
1 October 1907 29205 20 Battery RFA 14 March 1908 29025 Bombardier A Henderson RFA - Acting School Masters Certificate
1 June 1908 N0. 46 Horseshoe Lodge of IOGT (Grand Lodge of India)
1907-08 Deputy Grand Chief Templar No. XII (Allahabad) District
International Order of Good Templars
24 February 1909 Posted No. 49th Battery RFA 23 July 1910 Camp Irvine, Ayrshire. Discharged on completion of engagement (12 years).
Campaign medals:
TransvaalRelief of Ladysmith
Orange Free State
Tugela Heights
Cape Colony
29025 GNR A.HENDERSON R.F.A
South Africa 1901
South Africa 1902
29025 GNR A.HENDERSON R.F.A
1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription (2 April 1911)
23 East Quarry St, Wishaw, Cambusnethan, LanarkshireAnn Henderson, Head, 57, - b.c.1854 Elgin, Rothes
Andrew Henderson, Son, 30, Smelter - Steelworks b.c.1881 Lanark, Cambusnethan
William Henderson, Son, 22, Machine worker - Steelworks b.c.1889 Lanark, Cambusnethan
Frank Henderson, Son, 19, Ironworker - Steelworks b.c.1892 Lanark, Cambusnethan
1911 Census Image (Scotlands People)
British Army Service Records 1914 - 1919 World War I
14 Aug 1914 - 23 Oct 1915 serving at 1st Battalion, Royal Field Artillery (1 yr 71 days)
Andrew Henderson Age 34
Birth year 1880, town Wishaw, county Lanarkshire, country Scotland
Service number 650238, Regiment Royal Field Artillery, Unit / Battalion 1st Battalion
Year 1914, Series WO 364, Series description WO 364 - First World War Pension Claims Archive, The National Archives)
24 Oct 1915 - 11 Jun 1916 serving in France (231 days)
12 Jun 1916 - 24 May 1917 Home (347 days)
25 May 1917 - 13 Apr 1918 serving in France (324 days)
Awarded Military Medal Gazette date 19.11.1917
(Gassed 9 Apr 1918; returned to UK)
14 Apr 1918 - 17 Nov 1918 Catterick Military Hospital
(15 Sep 1918 inoculation) (218 days)
18 Nov 1918 - 10 Mar 1919 France (113 days)
11 Mar 1919 - 9 Apr 1919 Home (30 days)
Sergeant Andrew Henderson MM Service number 650238
Campaign medals:
Awarded Military Medal: Gazette date 19.11.1917
Badge date of issue 03-Sep-1919
Sergeant Andrew Henderson MM Service number 650238, Badge number B278188
Enlistment date 14-Aug-1914 Discharge date 09-Apr-1919 Regiment/unit 169th Bde R.F.A.
Cause of discharge: Wounds 392 xvia; Whether served overseas: Yes;
Record set: Silver War Badge Roll 1914-1920; Category: Military, armed forces & conflict;
Subcategory: First World War; Collections from: England, Great Britain
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1939 England, Wales & Scotland Register
Henderson Household (3 People) Belhaven Yawl Quarry Lane , Axminster R.D., Devon, England
Marie Henderson 10 May 1890 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 117 2
Andrew Henderson 05 Nov 1880 Male Water Bailiff Married 117 1
Annie P Trim(m) 11 Sep 1865 Female Incapacitated Widowed 117 3
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Deaths
Father:
29 July 1900, between 7 am and 1 pm at 29 Quarry Street, Wishaw
Andrew Henderson, Coalminer, aged 47,
Son of Andrew Henderson, Carter, deceased and Sarah Henderson m/s Percy
Cardiac Failure caused by alcoholic poisoning.
James Henderson, son present.
Grandmother:
19 June 1905, at 260 Low Main Street, Wishaw
Sarah Henderson, aged 80
Daughter of Matthew Percy, Small Farmer and Elizabeth Percy m/s Rule
Hypostatic Congestion of Lungs and Cardiac Debility
Robert Henderson,son present
Mother:
19 June 1919, 23 Quarry Street, Wishaw
Ann Chalmers m/s Jack died of cardiac failure aged 68
Andrew Henderson, son present.
(National Records of Scotland. Statutory Record of Death)
England & Wales deaths 1837-2007 Transcription
Deaths 13 Apr 1941
Jun Qtr 1941
HENDERSON Andrew 60 Bridport 5a 797
Cause of death: "Ureamia".
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Last update: 8 December 2022, Andy Henderson
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