Irving Henderson

In Westoe Cemetery are the remains of a family headstone which reads:-

Side 1
(Suggested
In loving memory of
Irving
beloved son of John Watt and)
Mary Ellen Henderson
killed in France July 1st 1916
aged 27 years

Side 2
(Suggested
Also
Ellen Catherine
the beloved wife of)
John Watt Henderson
died October 30th 1924
aged 65 years

Also
John Watt Henderson
(Suggested
died February 21st 1927
aged 67 years)

Irving was born in 1889,the son of baker and grocer, John Watt Henderson. His mother was Maltese-born Ellen Catherine Trimble of South View House, South Shields.

John Watt Henderson served on the South Shields council, and was Mayor of South Shields 1912-13, and elected Alderman towards the end of his term.

The family resided at 8 Sydenham Terrace. He attended Westoe Boys school.

Irving trained to be an architect and became a member of the Northern Architectural Association. Which was located at 6 Higham Place in Newcastle.

He was apprenticed to Messrs. J. H. Morton and Sons of South Shields. He was also a member of the South Shields rifle club.

Irving was killed on the 1st July 1916 at the Battle of the Somme in the follow up wave near to the 'Glory Hole'.

He was in the 9th platoon of 'C' Company and in the War Diary for the 1st July 1916, " The enemy's fire was so intense that the advance was checked & the waves, or what was left of them, were forced to lie down. On observing this, 'C' Coy the support Coy, moved out to reinforce the front line, losing a great number of men by in doing so. BN HQ was moved to the front line trench about 50 S of junction of Hamilton Av at 7.40am. & seeing the position orders were given for 'D' Coy, the reserve Coy to advance. Getting over the parapet the first platoon lost a great number of men & the remainder of the Coy was ordered to "stand fast" & and hold the line"

At nightfall the War Diary has a summary which reads: "A. Coy of the 2. R.I.F. commanded by Capt. Williams rendered excellent work in carrying back the wounded men who were lying out. Our S.B. [Stretcher Bearers] also did good work all day as did everybody who took part in the attack. The men of the attacking Coys moved forward like one man until the murderous fire of the enemy's M.G. forced them to halt. Not a man wavered & after nightfall we found in several places, straight lines of ten or twelve dead or badly wounded as if the Platoons had just been dressed for parade."

Source :16th Northumberland Fusiliers Battalion War Diary

Newcastle Journal 13/07/1916 reports:-

Ald. and Mrs J. W. Henderson, of Sydenham Terrace, South Shields, have received information that their son, Private Irving Henderson, been killed in action. He joined the Commercials soon after the outbreak of war, and was serving in the Northumberland Fusiliers. Private Henderson was an architect to profession, and before the war held Government appointment, which relinquished in order join forces.

Alderman John Watt Henderson his father presented Westoe Secondary School with a framed photo of the devastated Basilica at Albert, in memory of his son.

Irving Henderson is remembered at South Shields on S86.027, S86.046, S86.086 page 7, at Harton on H104.03, and H104.07, in Newcastle on NUT016 and in NUT068 page 161

South Shields Grammar School
The CWGC entry for Private Henderson