The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Henderson
- First Name:
- Robert Gordon
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX8384
- Company:
- Headquarters Company, No. 3 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 19.09.1940
- Discharged:
- 1.05.1946
- DOB:
- 31.12.1905
- Place of Birth:
- Aberdeen, Scotland
- Father's Name:
- Not Known
- Mothers's Name:
- No Known
- Religion:
- Presbyterian
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Baker
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi; Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp); River Valley Road Camp; Selarang Barracks Changi; Changi Gaol Camp
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore‐Labuan, 2/lst H.M. Australian Hospital Ship Manunda; Labuan, admitted to the 2/6 Australian General Hospital (21.9.1945); Labuan-Darwin by aircraft; Darwin-Perth, B24 Liberator aircraft.
General Description
Henderson enlisted AIF Sep 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s HQ Company No. 3 Platoon under Quartermasters Capt Phelps and Lt O’Sullivan.
Henderson acted as a Medical Orderly at the Medical Inspection Room for 2/4th during training and during Singapore Campaign – treating battle casualties.
In early 1944 he was attached to Combined Australian General Hospital as a nursing orderly. At the Combined AGH there were between 700-1000 patients and Henderson undertook all forms of medical care.
Pte Henderson was admitted to AGH 3rd April 1943 with arthritis to left hip joint (playing football).
AWM: Pack of 52 hand made playing cards made from backs of ‘Lancers’ cigarette packets (manufactured by Douglas Rhodes & Co Ltd, London), with finely drawn traditional markings in black, red and yellow ink. Each ace marked in addition within decorative scrolls ‘2/4th MACHINE GUN BATTALION POW CHANGI A.I.F.’ and ‘WX8384 PTE RBT. G. HENDERSON’. The triangular colour patch of 2/4 MGB is also drawn on each ace.
History / Summary
Made in Changi using the backs of cigarette packets by WX8384 Private Robert G Henderson of 2/4 MGB. He enlisted from Geraldton.
Below: Robert Gordon Henderson’s Japanese Changi record
Henderson was recovered from Changi on 4th September 1945 and embarked on Hospital Ship Manunda at Singapore to Labuan (2/1st Australian Hospital Ship).
Disembarked Labuan 2/6th AGH on 21 September 1945.
Emplaned Labuan 19th October 1945 to Darwin-Perth.
Admitted Hollywood Hospital.
Robert Henderson died Geraldton in 5 May 1980 aged 73 years and is buried at the Geraldton Cemetery.
It is believed he had lived in and around Geraldton.
His war medals can be found with his photo at the Geraldton RSL along with his official war details. Another 2/4th Davey Cripps also has his medals framed.
We believe Nelson married about 1941 to Christine Nelson – he recorded his NOK as Christine Henderson.
Electoral Rolls:
1963 Robert Gordon (labourer) and Christine May Henderson (Cook) are residing 5 George Road, Geraldton.
1936 Robert Gordon is plumber living in Corrigin.
1943 & 1949 Robert Gordon Henderson is plumber Bates Street, Merredin.
1947, 1954 & 1958 Robert Gordon Henderson is located at W.L. Webber & Son, Waggrakine as a gardener. (Waggrakine is today one of Geraldton’s northern suburbs.)
1972 Henderson is recorded living at Community Centre, Geraldton. No occupation.
1977 He is residing Geraldton War Veterans Home, no occupation.
Unfortunately we know little else of Henderson.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp) - Singapore
