Private William John Henderson

 

William John Henderson was born on 17 November 1895 at Cabragh, Irvinestown, County Tyrone, the fourth of five children of farmer James Henderson and his wife Sarah Jane (née Henderson). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Carran, Trillick, County Tyrone, with his parents and his three surviving siblings.

Henderson enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 1 March and 9 April 1915 (No. UD/226 – later Corps of Dragoons No.21265). On 6 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps.

On 3 May 1917 the Fermanagh Times reported that:

Mr. George J. Henderson, Springhill House, has received a letter from his brother, Trooper Wm. J. Henderson, Sixth Inniskilling Dragoons, which states that he is in hospital in Birmingham suffering from shell shock. He had a narrow escape from death, his horse having been killed under him. He was a member of the Mid-Tyrone Battalion, U.V.F., and volunteered at the beginning of the war.

Following his recovery, Henderson was posted to the Inniskillings reserve squadron at Enniskillen, remaining there until the end of the war. On 6 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. He later sought and received assistance for defective eyesight, which was found to have been aggravated by his military service.

 

This page last updated 9 August 2023.