The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Victory Medal, impressed around the edge with recipient's details.
Associated with the service of Captain John Keith Henderson, who was born in London, England on 29 January 1891. Henderson immigrated to Australia with his parents when he was a year old. He later attended Sydney Grammar School, before going on to study dentistry at Sydney University where he qualified as a dental surgeon.
Henderson enlisted in the Australian Medical Corps on 18 August 1914 as a part of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) that had been formed to take possession of German New Guinea and the neighbouring islands of the Bismarck Archipelago. He was allocated the regimental number 36 and the rank of private. He embarked the following day with the other members of the ANMEF from Cockatoo Island aboard HMAT Berrima.
After a brief stop at Palm Island for further training, the force proceeded to New Britain, where after several brief skirmishes, the German troops surrendered. The British flag was raised over Rabaul on 13 September. Henderson was promoted to corporal on 1 February 1915 during garrison duties at Herbertshohe. He returned to Australia in late February and was discharged on 4 March, his period of engagement over.
He joined the AIF as an officer candidate on 27 March and qualified as a second lieutenant in July 1915. On 8 August, he was posted to the 8th reinforcements to the 13th Battalion, AIF. He embarked from Circular Quay aboard HMAT Runic on 9 August. Henderson joined the 13th Battalion at Gallipoli on 23 October. He served there until 14 December, when he contracted malaria and was evacuated to hospital on Mudros Island.
He arrived in Egypt on 3 January 1916 and was promoted to lieutenant on 20 January. He was further promoted to captain on 1 March. Henderson then travelled with the battalion to France, arriving in Marseilles on 8 June. The battalion went into action in August 1916 at Pozieres and while leading an attack on a German trench on 14 August Captain Henderson went missing. witness accounts vary, but it seems he was badly wounded or killed while leading his men. He was posted as missing in action, before a court of enquiry listed him as having been killed in action. His body was never recovered and his name is commemorated on the Memorial at Villers Bretonneux.
Collection relating to service of Captain John Keith Henderson, 13 Battalion, AIF (and previously of Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force, New Guinea), New Guinea, Gallipoli & France, 1914-
Officers of the 13th Battalion playing polo, with donkeys for mounts. Identified left to right: Captain Francis Maxwell Barton, who was killed in action in France on 11 August 1916; Captain Douglas G
Victory Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Harold Burke, from Melbourne, enlisted in the AIF at the age of 21 in August 1914. In October 1914, Burke embarked for active service o
Victory Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Associated with the service of John Maher 'Jack' Lyons, who was born in Emmaville, NSW in 1887. He was working as a tram conductor when
Victory Medal with MID oak leaf clasp. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. James Ernest Newland was born to William and Louisa Jane Newland at Highton, Victoria on 22 August 1881. Little
Victory Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Robert Alexander McKillop was born in Tumut, NSW on 23 April 1882. He worked as a stock and stallion agent in Cooma, NSW prior to his e
Victory Medal, impressed around the edge with recipient's details. Associated with the service of Second Lieutenant Arthur Lionel Keith Cooper, who was born on 12 January 1891, in Sydney, NSW. Durin
Victory Medal, impressed around the edge with the recipient's details. Associated with the service of 1111 Private James Allen Walker, who was born in Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa in 1890. He i
