It is the military information that gives us  the start needed to research this soldier who came from Scotland to the Overton area.

UK Soldiers who Died in The Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes an entry for Thomas Henderson. This is what connects him to the Overton area. It tells us that he was born in Edinburgh and resided in Ellesmere Salop. He enlisted in Wrexham.  It gives us his regiment – The 8th Bn of the  Royal Welsh Fusiliers and his number was 13764. This soldier died of wounds at sea on the 18th August 1915.

His Medal index card, also on Ancestry, lists his 3 medals as above and adds that his first Theatre of War was The Balkans (Gallipoli) and that he died of wounds on the 18th August 1915.

The Register of Soldiers’ effects in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to a deceased soldier, includes an entry for Royal Welsh Fusilier Thomas Henderson who died on the 18th August 1915. His sole legatee was his mother whose name was Jane.  She received a toatal of £7..11sh  ..6d  in two separate payments.

The Commonwealth War Grave Commission records him as being the son of Mr and Mrs James Henderson of Hermand Crescent, Edinburgh. He was 21.

The 1901 census records a  Henderson family living in Wardlaw Street, Edinburgh. Head of the household was James a 44 year old Tinsmith. His wife Jane was 41. Their listed children were Jane 20 a ‘Grocer’s Clerkess’, James 18 , a Tinsmith’s Apprentice, William 16, a Brass Finisher’s Apprentice,  Frederick 13 a Butcher’s Message Boy. Flora was 9. Thomas 7, Williamena 5 and Robert 9 months.

It has not yet proved possible to locate Thomas in the 1911 census and we have no idea what brought him to the Overton area. Presumably work.

We know that he was wounded at Gallipoli and taken to a hospital ship probably for evacuation to Alexandria in Egypt. He died and was buried at sea.

Somebody wanted him to be remembered on the Overton Memorial. We wish we knew more.