Corporal Alexander Henderson

Corporal Alexander Murray Henderson, 1st/7th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in Flanders on 26th October 1917, aged 25, during the Battle of Third Ypres. He had been born in Berwick and was the son of Cecilia and the late Alexander Henderson of 42 West Street, Berwick and is buried in Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Langemark, Flanders, Belgium.  His Headstone is inscribed ” Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out”. On that day the Battalion attacked strong German positions at “Angle Point “and ” Aden House “. Despite very heavy machine gun fire some ground was gained but due to the numerous casualties and enfilading machine gun fire these gains had to be given up. 10 Officers and 43 Other Ranks were killed and 1 Officer and 150 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 53 Other Ranks were posted missing. At midnight the Battalion was relieved and moved back into reserve. The photographs give some idea of the conditions the troops had to fight in. The final photo shows the impressive Memorial raised to the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Division of which the Battalion was part until February 1918 when it was transferred to the 42nd ( East Lancashire ) Division as a Pioneer Battalion. It was erected near the village of Weiltje in the Ypres Salient where nearby on 26th April 1915 the Division had fought its first action of the War only days after landing on the Continent.