Herbert Stephen Henderson

Trooper, Bulawayo Field Force, South African Forces

Register No.: 559 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Trooper all Troopers →
Unit: Bulawayo Field Force, South African Forces all Bulawayo Field Force VCs →
Date of action: 30 March 1896 on this day → all of 1896 →
Conflict / campaign: Matabeleland Rebellion
London Gazette: 7th May 1897 on this day → all of 1897 →
Born: 30th March 1870 at Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland
Died: 10th August, 1942 at Bulawayo, Rhodesia
Memorial / grave: not known

Digest of citation

On 30th March 1896 at Campbell's Store, near Bulawayo, Rhodesia, a patrol which had been sent to the rescue of another beleaguered patrol, was surprised by rebels and Trooper Henderson and another trooper were cut off from the main party. The second trooper was shot through the knee and his horse killed, so Trooper Henderson put the wounded man on his own horse, and walking beside it, made his way to Bulawayo, 35 miles away. They had to move principally by night, as the country was full of marauding rebels and they had no food for two days and one night

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

HENDERSON, Herbert Stephen. (reg No. 559).

Trooper. Bulawayo Field Force, South African Forces.

London Gazetted on 7th May 1897.

Born on 30th March 1870 at Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland.

Died on 10th August, 1942 at Bulawayo, Rhodesia.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: On 30th March 1896 at Campbell's Store, near Bulawayo, Rhodesia, a patrol which had been sent to the rescue of another beleaguered patrol, was surprised by rebels and Trooper Henderson and another trooper were cut off from the main party. The second trooper was shot through the knee and his horse killed, so Trooper Henderson put the wounded man on his own horse, and walking beside it, made his way to Bulawayo, 35 miles away. They had to move principally by night, as the country was full of marauding rebels and they had no food for two days and one night

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