Eight: Lieutenant-Colonel W. J. Henderson, Royal Pioneer Corps, late British South Africa Police

1914-15 Star (1843 Tpr. W. J. Henderson, B.S.A.P.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. W. J. Henderson); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (1843 Sjt. W. J. Henderson, B.S.A. Pol.), together with related shooting awards (2), comprising Wantage & District Rifle Club, silver, named and dated 1907, and National Rifle Association, bronze, dated 1907, good very fine or better and rare (10) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Keith Holshausen Collection.

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Just 13 Army M.S.Ms were issued to the British South Africa Police in the Great War, all for the campaign in East Africa.

Walter John Henderson, who was born at Aldershot in 1891, attested for the British South Africa Police in May 1914, and subsequently witnessed active service in the campaign in German East Africa from August 1915 until the end of the War, and was mentioned in despatches by Brigadier-General E. Northey, C.B., at Ubena (London Gazette 25 September 1917 refers), in addition to being awarded the M.S.M. (London Gazette 7 February 1919 refers). During this period he appears to have served on attachment to the artillery, Historic Cannon at Kasema noting, ‘Captain Hopkins says that the guns arrived at the Northern border in August 1915, and that amongst the gun’s crew were ... Sergeant-Major Chalmers, Trooper Keen and Trooper Henderson. The guns took part in the investment of the German post called Namema.’ Henderson was commissioned in a Transport section in January 1918, which appointment he relinquished in July 1919. Of his subsequent military career in the 1939-45 War, little is known, though he would appear to have been commissioned in the Royal Pioneer Corps in August 1940, and to have served in the Middle East on attachment to the African Colonial Forces, gaining advancement to the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1942; sold with a file of research.