Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine ‘V.C. Action’ casualty Q.S.A. awarded to Sergeant G. Henderson, Gordon Highlanders, one of Captain Towse’s gallant band of twelve, who charged and bested a force of 150 Boers on Thabu Mountain, 30 April 1900

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (3352 Sgt. G. Henderson, Gordon Highrs:) very fine £300-400

George Henderson was born in Edinburgh, and attested for the Gordon Highlanders at Aberdeen, in February 1890. He advanced to Corporal in August 1894, and served with the 1st Battalion in India, February 1892 - October 1898 (entitled to I.G.S. 1895-1902, with ‘Relief of Chitral 1895’, ‘Punjab Frontier 1897-98’ and ‘Tirah 1897-98’ clasps). Promoted Sergeant, September 1899, and served with the Regiment in South Africa, 9 October 1899 - 20 November 1900. He was wounded at Thaba N’chu (Thaba Mountain), 30 April 1900. On the latter date Henderson was one of the twelve men under the command of Captain E. B. B. Towse, and ‘about two o’clock one group, ten Highlanders and three of Kitchener’s under Captain Towse, were working up a spur near the eastern edge of the plateau, a good deal in advance of their comrades’. Smith-Dorrien says:

“It was evident to us below that they were unaware that working towards them southwards was an overwhelming force of Boers - some 150 strong. This force we had seen for some time, and so unlike Boers and so like our own troops were their movements that they were within a few hundred yards of Towse’s party before we realised that they were Boers. Then the 74th Field Battery and the R.H.A. guns poured shell into them at 3,400 yards. We saw the forces, only about 100 yards apart, suddenly discover each other, for both were approaching a crest-line from opposite sides. It looked as if our small party must be annihilated, when these few men of the Gordons and Kitchener’s rushed forward and appeared to pour in a terrible fire before which the Boer lines recoiled and fled back. This gallant act saved us the hill. Had the Boers driven this small party back our task, difficult as it was, would have been more difficult.”

The War Diary records that Towse’s men fixed bayonets as they charged, and that 7 of the gallant band were killed or wounded. Towse was himself shot through the eyes. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, for his gallantry at Magersfontein, and during this action.

Henderson was discharged as ‘Medically Unfit’, 2 July 1901, after 11 years and 149 days service with the Colours.