Other Properties - Australian Groups

Lot 4069    SESSION 10 (9.30AM FRIDAY 27TH NOVEMBER)    Other Properties - Australian Groups

Estimate $10,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $8,500

DSO TRIO TO KIA: Distinguished Service Order (GVR); British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19 with MID. The first medal unnamed as issued, Lt-Col R.O.Henderson A.I.F. on second medal, Lieut-Colonel. R.O.Henderson. A.I.F. on last medal. The named medals impressed. Display mounted together with collar badges (see below), b&w photograph and details of officer and his award, extremely fine.

Together with a pair of 67th (Bendigo) Infantry (Vic) officer's enamelled collar badges (30mm), 1912-18 (Cossum 142); portrait b&w photograph in uniform by W.Vincent Kelly of Bendigo; Bestowal document for award of DSO.

DSO: LG 18/1/1918, p954; CAG 23/5/1918, p1125, to Lt-Col R.O.Henderson, 39 Infy Bn.

Recommendation: East of Ypres, both during operations of the 4/ 5th and 12/ 13th Octr. 1917, this officer stood out conspicuously on account of his absolute indifference to danger and of his leadership. On the 4th when he and his Battalion had reached their objective he personally supervised the digging in and re-organisation. He then remained in the shell hole with his men - his cheerfulness and high spirits having a wonderful affect in keeping up their courage and spirits.

On the 12th his Battalion was in Reserve but was quickly absorbed as reinforcements owing to very heavy casualties. The various units had become mixed up and many Officers had become casualties so that it needed vigorous action by a senior Officer on the spot to re-organise. This task was carried out admirably by Lt.Col. Henderson in spite of the great difficulty due to marshy nature of the ground and to the heavy enemy shell fire and perfect hail of machine gun bullets which were enfilading the position. His example was a great incentive to all troops not only of his own but of other units.

MID: LG 28/5/1918, p6202; CAG 24/10/1918, p2056, to Lt-Col R.O.Henderson, 39 Infy Bn.

Robert Oswald Henderson, merchant, age 41, born at Bendigo, Vic; Enl.23Feb1916 at Bendigo, Vic, while a commissioned officer in CMF (temporarily CO of 67th Bendigo Infy), first commission 16May1899; Appt'd Major 01May1916; Emb.20Jun1916; CO 38Bn 22Nov1916; to Lt-Col and trf'd to command 39Bn 15Feb1917; WIA 29Mar1918, GSW left thumb, France; to Brevet Col 03Jun1918 for specially meritorious services rendered during the present War; rejoined unit 13Jun1918; Special Mention in Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch of 07Apr1918; KIA 29Sep1918 in practically the last operation in which the unit was engaged, France; Buried at St Emilie British Cemetery, Ronsoy, north east of Peronne, France; later re-buried at Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery, France; commemorated on the Bendigo Roll of Honour and the Roll of Honour of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

With a large amount of research and includes copy of Service File.