Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (2nd Lieut. Wm. H. J. Henderson, 2nd Compy. 1st Bn. Arty.) edge bruising, otherwise very fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Bombay Artillery.

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Provenance: Bought Spink 1971.

William Hugh Jameson Henderson was born at Poona on 1 December 1826, the son of William Henderson, Paymaster, and Eliza his wife. After being educated at Mr Foster’s Academy, Clapham, and London University, he was nominated a Cadet for the Bombay Artillery by Major-General Archibald Galloway, a Director of the H.E.I.C., at the recommendation of William Burnie, Esq. At the time of his application his father was described as a Lieutenant-Colonel, Bombay European Regiment. He entered Addiscombe in September 1844, and passed his Public Examination on 12 June 1846, being gazetted a Second Lieutenant in the Bombay Artillery on the same day. He sailed from Southampton in the S.S. Achilles on 3 September and arrived in India on 8 October 1846.
Henderson is next heard of serving in the 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, Bombay Artillery, manning 7th Light Field Battery, Lieutenant J. B. Woosnam in command, in the campaign in the Punjab at the end of 1848. The Bombay column, under Major-General Dundas, reached Mooltan by forced march on 22 December and took part in the clearing of the suburbs. Henderson was wounded there on 30 December (London Gazette 3 April 1849). The walled town was taken on 2 January 1849, and the Sikhs surrendered the citadel on 22 January, just before the storming was due to take place. The total casualties to the Artillery of the Bombay Column was 9 killed and 29 wounded.

A portion of the force at Mooltan, including 2/1st Battalion, Bombay Artillery, now under Captain S. Turnbull, was sent to join Lord Gough in time to take part in the great and final battle of Goojerat on 21 February, though the Bombay Column was in reserve during the battle. Subsequently they took part in the pursuit, under Major-General Gilbert, of the Sikh force to the Indus, where they surrendered.

Henderson was promoted Lieutenant on 23rd February on 23 February 1853, and on 5 January 1858, joined the Ordnance Department as a Junior Deputy Principal Commissary of Ordnance at Bombay. Although he was no doubt heavily burdened with work during the Indian Mutiny, he evidently did not join a force which became eligible for the medal. He was promoted to 2nd Captain on 27 August 1858.

In January 1860 Henderson was appointed Acting President of the Civil and Military Committee for the examination in Native Languages, but on 17 January 1860 he died of a hepatic abscess. He was buried the following day at Back Bay from St Thomas’s Cathedral, Bombay.