Second Lieutenant Noel Henderson

Second Lieutenant Noel Charles Henderson, “D” Company, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch. He was killed in action  in France on 9th October 1915 during the Battle of Loos, aged 20. He had been born in London and was the son of George and Mary Henderson of Kensington, London and is buried in the Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France. His Headstone is inscribed ” Thy Will Be Done “. He had been educated at Marlborough College and Clare College, Cambridge. In 1914. In September 1914 he enlisted in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps and then the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned from there in February 1915 and joined his Battalion in France in May 1915.. (According to the Battalion History he was killed in action on the 25th September which was the first day of the Battle and not 10th October ).  The Battalion was part of the Bareilly Brigade of the Indian Corps and attacked on the left flank of a general assault in order to pin the German reserves in place away from the main attack. Despite great heroics the attack only partly succeeded but with heavy casualties.  4 Officers ( including Henderson) and 87 Other Ranks were killed and 10 Officers and 261 Other Ranks were wounded. The photograph shows the village of Loos after capture. ( There is an excellent account of the Battle on ” The Long Long Trail” website ). The artist’s illustration depicts the Black Watch during the Battle.