Major George Henderson - Central India Horse (38th) - Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force: a

Major George Henderson - Central India Horse (38^th) - Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force: a collection of the Major's uniform items and his sword: the uniforms comprising: an undress tunic and pantaloons, drab with maroon facings; a shell jacket, mess waistcoat and overalls, drab with maroon facings and gold lace; a sword belt, pouch belt (no pouch) and three sashes; and a pair of mess wellingtons with mess spurs; the sword an India Pattern 1908 Mk I, slender blade 35.25 in., steel guard, walnut grip, in its steel scabbard. [qty]

By descent.

George Henderson was born on the 26^th of December, 1882, in Salona, Assam, where his Father was a Tea Planter. He studied at Sandhurst and was commissioned in the Central India Horse on the 27^th August, 1902. The Regiment was stationed in Goona, carrying out training and garrison duties and preparing for possible service abroad. In December 1914, the Regiment deployed to the Western Front as part of the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division.

In 1915, Henderson attended the Central Flying School at Upavon, Wiltshire and trained to become a pilot with The Royal Flying Corps. He did 30 hours of training and was marked on every aspect as ‘Very Good’ and ‘Above Average’. He joined 15 Squadron, RFC on 22/12/1915 for artillery spotting, reconnaissance, escort and aerial combat duties.

On the 19^th of January 1916, Captain Henderson was patrolling in a B.E.2.c. of No 15 Squadron, at 8,500 feet above Courtrai in Belgium when he was attacked by a Fokker and a number of Aviatiks. His aircraft was hit in the carburettor and his Observer was wounded in the eye and passed out. As they limped towards their airfield with their engine reduced to very low revs the enemy renewed their attack, but the Observer, Corporal C H Nott, recovered consciousness and shot down an Aviatik with his Lewis guns. For his bravery Cpl Nott was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 15/03/1916).

George Henderson commanded No 53 Squadron RFC from January 1917 until February 1919 when (by now part of the RAF) the squadron moved to Old Sarum in Wiltshire. This was its base until being disbanded in October 1919.

Henderson relinquished his commission in the RAF in September 1919 and returned to India to serve as an Instructor at the cavalry school at Saugor. Upon his retirement in 1922 he returned to the UK. On the outbreak of the Second World War he took a commission in The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 57.

George Henderson married in 1917 and had a daughter in 1919. He died in 1947, in Hampshire, aged 65.