Edward Elers Delaval Henderson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message. This article has been tagged since October 2006. |
Edward Elers Delaval Henderson (2 October 1878 - 25 January 1917) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 38 years old, and a T/Lieutenant Colonel in The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's), British Army, attached to The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Commander 9th Battalion during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 25 January 1917 on the west bank of the River Hai, near Kut, Mesopotamia, Lieutenant Colonel Henderson brought his battalion up to the two first line trenches and they suffered heavy casualties when the enemy made a strong counter-attack, penetrating the line in several places. The situation was critical and Colonel Henderson, although wounded, jumped on to the parapet and then advanced alone in front of his battalion, cheering them on under most intense fire over 500 yards of open ground. Again wounded, he nevertheless captured the position by a bayonet charge, but he was twice more wounded and died later the same day. See also Robert Edwin Phillips.
