In Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Italy is the Commonwealth War Grave of 12906 James Henry Henderson, M.S.M., serving with the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards who died 09/10/1918.

David Thompson has submitted the following:-

James Henry Henderson was born at Beadnell, Northumberland.

The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) was first awarded in 1847, to reward specially selected long-service non-commissioned officers, but in 1916 it was decided to award this medal to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men, irrespective of rank, without annuity, as a reward for valuable and meritorious service, not necessarily in action with the enemy, i.e., for standing there and taking it!  All these awards, made until 1928, were promulgated in the ‘London Gazette’.

Henderson’s was one of 221 names gazetted on 1 January 1919, in his case posthumously, in recognition of valuable services with the British Forces in Italy.

The Berwick Advertiser 10/01/1919 reports:-
The late Lance-Corporal J. H. Henderson, Coldstream Guards, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for operations in Italy. Lance-Corporal Henderson, who was a nephew of Mr Chas. Makins, Berwick, died from the effects a chill in Italy during October. He was well known in Berwick and was a keen golfer in pre-war days. He was for many years in the Valuation Office, Bridge Street, and joined the Guards in September 1914. While in France he was employed as a draughtsman in the Brigade Headquarters Office, and on being transferred to Italy was employed on similar work.

The Berwick Advertiser 21/11/1919 reports:
Mr James Henry Henderson, of New Mills, Berwick upon Tweed, Corporal of the Coldstream Guards, whose death occurred in Italy on the 9th October 1918, leaving estate valued at £215 Is 2d. Mr Charles Makins, of the same place, the sole executor.

James Henry Henderson is remembered in Berwick on B25.01, B25.08 and B25.46.