Memorial details

Memorial type
Board / Plaque / Tablet
District
Berwickshire
Town
Gordon
County
Borders
Country
Scotland
Commemoration
Iraq 1918-1922, VC or GC Recipients
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
81088

Support IWM

Donate with Just Giving

Any gift we receive makes a vital contribution to our ongoing work, from conserving our collection to supporting our public programme.

Make a Donation
Current location

St Michael's Church
Manse Road
Gordon
Berwickshire
Borders
TD3 6LS
Scotland

OS Grid Ref: NT 64487 43189
Denomination: Church of Scotland

View location on Google Maps
Description
Brass Plaque on wooden backboard
Inscription
IN MEMORY OF/CAPTAIN GEORGE STUART HENDERSON/VC DSO MC/THE MANCHESTER REGIMENT/ONLY SON OF ROBERT AND MARY HENDERSON/BORN AT EAST GORDON DECEMBER 5TH 1893/KILLED IN ACTION AT HILLAH, MESOPOTAMIA/JULY 24TH 1920 /"ALL THAT HE HAD HE GAVE"
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Henderson, George Stuart
See details
Commemorations
  • Iraq 1918-1922
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames, rank, regiment, place of death, manner of death, date of death, date of birth, place of birth, relationships, decorations
    Order of information: Undefined
  • VC or GC Recipients
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames, rank, regiment, place of death, manner of death, date of death, date of birth, place of birth, relationships, decorations
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Brass
  • Backboard
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Wood
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=8083&mforum=warmemscot
  • Citation 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 N.C.O s to hold him up on the embankment, saying ' I'm done now, don't let them beat you'. He died fighting."

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-81088

For queries, please contact [email protected].