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Capt. George Stuart Henderson VC DSO MC MID.
British Army 2nd Btn. Manchester Regiment
from:Roxburghshire, England
Captain George Stuart Henderson VC DSO and Bar MC MID(5) served with the 2nd Battalion the Manchester Regiment and was killed in action on the 24th July 1920 in Mesopotamia. He was 5 times Mentioned in Despatches. He died age 26 and is commemorated on Panel Reference Panel 31 and 64 on the Basra War Memorial, Iraq. He was the son of Robert and Mary Henderson, of Mount Hooly, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.
An extract from "The London Gazette", dated 29th Oct., 1920, records the following:-
For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice. On the evening of the 24th July, 1920, when about fifteen miles from Hillah (Mesopotamia), the Company under his command was ordered to retire. After proceeding about 500 yards a large party of Arabs suddenly opened fire from the flank, causing the Company to split up and waver. Regardless of all danger, Capt. Henderson at once reorganised the Company, led them gallantly to the attack and drove off the enemy. On two further occasions this officer led his men to charge the Arabs with the bayonet and forced them to retire. At one time, when the situation was extremely critical and the troops and transport were getting out of hand, Capt. Henderson by sheer pluck and coolness, steadied his command, prevented the Company from being cut up, and saved the situation. During the second charge he fell wounded, but refused to leave his command, and just as the Company reached the trench they were making for he was again wounded. Realising that he could do no more, he asked one of his NCOs to hold him up on the embankment, saying 'I'm done now, don't let them beat you'. He died fighting.
