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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 7

(x) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lt. W. Henderson. Bengal Engrs.), toned, very fine

William Henderson was born at 49 School Hill, Aberdeen on 13 April 1828, the son of a physician. He received his education at Marischal College, gaining high marks in Moral Philosophy. Nominated for the 1845 Season at Addiscombe by Henry Shank, one of the H.E.I.C.'s Directors, he passed his Public Examination at East India House, Leadenhall Street on 29 May 1845. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Bengal Engineers on 11 June 1847, he departed Southampton aboard the steamer Indus on 20 January 1849 and arrived at Fort William, Calcutta on 7 March. His initial posting was to the Sappers & Pioneers at Loodianah.

On 10 April 1851 Henderson was appointed to the 6th Division, Civil Engineers' Department, Punjab, his initial project being the Lahore to Peshawar Road (East India Register, refers). He oversaw construction of the Rawalpindi stretch, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 August 1854. He served with the Bengal Engineers during the Indian Mutiny (Medal). Rather than taking a year's furlough, as he was entitled, Henderson became Assistant Field Engineer with the Sitana Expedition of April/May 1858. He was mentioned in Sir Sidney Cotton's dispatch for his services, and advanced to 2nd Captain on 27 August. He died in Scotland on 30 August 1859, and did not live to claim his India General Service Medal with 'North West Frontier' clasp; sold with copied research and H.E.I.C. service papers.


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Sold for
£280