Herbert Stephen Henderson

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Herbert Stephen Henderson VC (30 March 1870- 10 August 1942) was a Scottish 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.

[edit] Details

He was 26 years old, and a Trooper in the Bulawayo Field Force, South African Forces during the Matabeleland Rebellion, Rhodesia when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 30 March 1896 at Campbell's Store, near Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), 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.

[edit] References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)