Canada. A First & Second War Group Of Six, To Captain Frederick L. Henderson, 19Th Infantry Battalion

Footnote: Frederick Lewis Henderson was born on April 29, 1894 in Hamilton, Ontario. He served with the 91st Highlanders from November 1913 to October 1914, before being transferred to the 19th Infantry Battalion on November 7, 1914. Henderson signed his Officers' Attestation Paper as a Lieutenant with the 19th Infantry Battalion, on November 13, 1914 in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Ada B. Henderson of Hamilton, stating that he was with an Active Militia, the 91st Highlanders, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Broker (Grocery). The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 36, March 15, 1915. The Battalion sailed on May 13, 1915 from Montreal, Quebec aboard the S.S. Scandinavian, with a strength of 41 officers and 1,075 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J.J. McLaren, arriving in England on May 22nd and taken on strength at Shorncliffe on the 23rd. He was attached temporarily to the 23rd Infantry Battalion for Instruction in Musketry on May 31, 1915, returning to duty with the 19th Infantry Battalion on June 9th. Four months after arriving in England and having received additional training and preparation, Lieutenant Henderson proceeded overseas for service in the French theatre with the 19th Infantry Battalion, disembarking in Boulogne, France on September 14, 1915. In France, he attended a Bombing Course at the Trench Warfare School from October 18 to 22, 1915. Henderson was promoted to Temporary Captain with effect from August 15, 1916. The 19th Infantry Battalion was in action in the Somme on September 15, 1916, when at 6:20 a.m. that day, the artillery had unleashed a deadly creeping barrage ahead of the attacking infantry. Four minutes later, the leading waves of the 4th Brigade went over the top, followed by platoons of the 19th Infantry Battalion. Between 7:04 a.m. and 8:40 a.m., the platoon commanders reported that they had reached their assigned objectives and were digging in to secure the morning’s gains. All day they worked under intense German shell fire, and around 5:00 p.m. troops of the 5th Brigade passed through their positions, to continue the attack and capture what remained of the village of Courcelette. In the early phases of this difficult day’s work, the men also observed the impact of some of the first tanks to go into action in the history of warfare. Although only two of the six tanks assigned to support the Canadians managed to advance far enough to engage and terrify the enemy, the 19th Infantry Battalion reported that the strange machines had played an important part in the attack’s success. However, the cost to the battalion for their part in this victory was high, with six officers and approximately 250 other ranks killed, wounded, or missing on September 15th. It was their first major offensive operation and one that survivors would not soon forget. Captain Henderson was in action with the 19th Infantry Battalion that day when he was reported wounded at Pozieres in the Somme, on September 15, 1916, suffering a "penetrating shrapnel (gun shot) wound to his right eye with destruction", the left eye unaffected.

 

He was invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Aberdonian on September 17th and upon arrival in England, was transferred to Headquarters at the Corps Training Depot at Shorncliffe and posted to the General List on the 18th. Captain Henderson was admitted to Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Extension at Millbank S.W. on September 18, 1916, where the attending physician described the severity of the injury: "a fragment struck the eye in (the) internal ciliary region penetrating to and lodging in the vitreous." During his four week stay in hospital, the doctor stated that "After some time the eye settled down", and he was discharged from Queen Alexandra on October 16th. He was transferred and admitted to West Cliff Canadian Eye & Ear Hospital at Folkestone on October 17th. It was here that X-Rays were done by the Canadian Army Medical Corps at Moore Barracks Canadian Hospital. The first of these were done on October 19th, where it was discovered that there were "two foreign bodies at inner and middle portion (of the) orbit, right. To return for exclusion eyeball." After his operation, he returned for a second set of X-Rays on October 27th, the X-Rays revealing that there a "Foreign body (was) not in (the) eyeball". The doctor described the overall condition of the right eye as a "perforating wound of the eye with prolapse of the Iris which has become adherent. X-Ray shows no foreign body in globe but two foreign bodies in (the) orbit." His right eye was re-assessed at Shorncliffe on November 21, 1916, with Henderson being declared "Unfit for any service" for the next two months. After six weeks under the auspices of the staff at West Cliff, it was recommended that "he be given considerable leave with permission to proceed to Canada and that if possible, he be given duty in Canada", with Henderson being officially discharged from hospital on November 27th. Captain Henderson returned to Canada aboard the S.S. Olympic on December 1, 1916 and was leave granted until February 1, 1917. In his Proceedings of a Medical Board report, dated December 19, 1916 at Military Hospital in Hamilton, the attending physicians noted that "while on active service he sustained a penetrating wound of the right eyeball from a fragment of shrapnel for which he has undergone treatment for some months in France and England." It went on to describe his current condition: "There has been complete destruction of vision in the right eye, and no treatment could be expected to be of service in restoring it. Oculist's report is attached herewith (which confirmed their findings). It is probable that within a few months softening will occur in the damaged eye to such a degree as will necessitate its removal, after which a period of at least one month must elapse before an artificial eye could be satisfactorily fitted. This Officer is disinclined to accept (an) operation now, but the Board is of the opinion that it will shortly become inevitable in order to prevent the involvement of the remaining eye." He was declared "Not fit for service", the physician's report emphasizing that "It is impossible to state positively how long it will take for softening to occur, but it is estimated that the degenerative changes will be evident within three months. It is recommended that the Officer should be transferred to Casualties, CEF until the eye has been removed and an artificial one supplied at the public expense."

 

The Board came to the conclusion that the injury would not prevent his earning a livelihood, "Not at all as long as the remaining eye is not affected". Captain Frederick Hamilton, 19th Infantry Battalion was retained in Canada and was struck off strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on March 21, 1917, by reason of assuming duty with the Welland Canal Force. In his Proceedings of Medical Board report, dated on April 13, 1917 at Hamilton, the doctor described the current state of Henderson's eyes: "Following a penetrating wound of the right eyeball, from a fragment of shrapnel, the condition at present is as follows: The eye is improving and is quiescent (state or period of inactivity or dormancy), though inevitable if left uncovered. The left eye becomes tired and aches if he reads for over an hour. The degenerative changes to be expected in his case have not occurred, but it is necessary that the eyes not be strained. As he is at present on duty at the Welland Canal, it is recommended that he be allowed to continue, in as much as eyes will not be more liable to strain there, than if he were at home." He was subsequently struck off strength on being declared "Unfit for Overseas Service but Fit for Home Duty" on May 16, 1917. In his Medical History of an Invalid report, dated June 5, 1917 at Port Dalhousie Post, Welland Canal Force, the doctor noted that "There is not much pain in the eye, except occasionally. The other eye is very good except after reading for more than an hour. Does not wear glasses." The doctor recommended "that he be supplied with glasses" and that as such, Henderson was "Fit for Home Service". Captain Frederick L. Henderson was credited with having served in Canada, England and France with the 19th Infantry Battalion, on the General List and at the Canadian Training Depot. For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was a Captain with the Welland Canal Field Force in Niagara Falls, Ontario when he applied for the War Service Badge, Class "A" on December 7, 1917. His request for a badge was granted, with a badge being issued with number 26794. He was re-appointed in the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Garrison Regiment on July 1, 1918, then struck off strength on August 16, 1918 on being permitted to resign. In his Medical History of an Invalid report, dated September 4, 1918 at Hamilton, the attending physician stated that there was "No pain in (the) right eye ordinarily, but a very bright light will cause a stinging sensation for the time while exposed to light. No complaint of left eye save that upon reading three or more hours continuously same will become tired." The specialist's follow-up report stated that "This man has vision in the right eye, light perception only. The scar tissue in the cornea from the old injury is increasing slightly. The eye becomes slightly inflamed at times. There is still (a) possibility that this eye may have to be enucleated (surgically removed) if it becomes irritable. Vision in (the) left eye is normal." He was declared "Fit for Home Service in Canada only." Henderson later served in the home theatre during the Second World War and for that service, he was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945.