Letters relating to Ronald Lennox Henderson, 1917

1st. Anzac Corps, 4th. May 1917.

Dear Henderson,
I write to congratulate you most heartily upon
the Military Cross, which has been awarded to you for your conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to duty in the fighting at Hermies
on the 9th. April. I know how untiringly you worked in the care
 and treatment of the wounded, and on clearing all the cases from
the regimental aid post, you went forward under heavy fire, and
attended to those who were lying near our objective. Later, too,
I know that you treated every wounded man in the village at great
personal risk, and that, as a result of your assuidity and courage
all our wounded and many wounded prisoners were cleared by noon,
which meant so much in alleviating their sufferings.
Thank you so much for your good work, and with
good wishes for the future.
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.)  W. Birdwood.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 18 JUNE 1917. 6003 

enemy, capturing and sending back many
prisoners. He displayed great ability and
leadership throughout. 
______________
Capt.  (now Maj.)  William  John  Robert
Cheeseman,  Infy
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.  He showed the utmost coolness and 
initiative when commanding an outpost line.
They were surprised and outflanked by a
strong enemy force which broke through.  He
at once organised a counter-attack and succeeded
in driving back the enemy and restoring
the outpost line again.
______________
Lt.  Leonard  Charles  Cooke,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to

duty.    He established and maintained communication
under very heavy fire throughout
the operations.   He set a splendid example
of courage and determination.
______________
Lt.  Leslie  Dadson,  M.C.,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He led two platoons with great ability 
in the face of heavy fire,  capturing the position
and two machine guns.   His personal
bravery was largely responsible for the success
of the operation.
______________
Lt.  Edwin  John  Dennis,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.  He gallantly led his men forward in
in the face of very heavy fire,  and succeeded in 
gaining his objective,  which he consolidated.
He was wounded.
______________
2nd  Lt.  Herbert  Leslie  Dill,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He set a splendid example throughout,
and inspired his men by his fine leadership.
He was severely wounded,  but continued
to command with great coolness until
relieved.
______________
2nd  Lt.  Norman  Dougall,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He organised and gallantly led forward
a counter-attack which drove the enemy 
back,  and undoubtedly saved a critical situation.
______________
2nd  Lt.  Arthur  Alexander  Duprez,  Inf.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He led his men with great gallantry
and determination under heavy fire.   His
splendid example largely contributed to the
success of the operations.
______________
Lt.  Roy  Earl,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He led a party of machine gunners
and bombers against the enemy,  capturing
three machine guns and several prisoners.
His prompt action and gallantry removed a
great danger,  and undoubtedly saved many
casualties.
______________
2nd  Lt.  Frederick  Gawler,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty when in command of an advanced post.
He gallantly defeated a determined enemy
attempt to rush his post.   He set a magnificent 
example to his men.
______________
Lt.  George  Frederick  Gould,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He led his men with great gallantry
and initiative in the face of heavy fire,  driving
back the enemy and consolidating the position.
He set a splendid example of courage
and coolness throughout.
______________
Lt.  Reginald  Hall,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He showed great initiative and coolness
in holding his post against large numbers
of the enemy.
______________
Capt.  Reginald  Hemmingway,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He organised and gallantly led a 
counter-attack which drove the enemy back
at a critical time.   He set a splendid example
of courage and initiative.
______________
Capt.  Ronald  Lennox  Henderson,  Aust.
A.M.C.,  attd.  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He displayed great courage and determination
in tending the wounded under very
heavy fire.   His devotion to duty saved many
lives.

______________
Lt.  Austin  Albert  Heritage,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to 
duty.   He gallantly led his men in the face
of heavy fire, driving the enemy out of their
position with heavy losses.   Later,  he rallied
his men under heavy trench mortar bombardment
 and re-established the position. 
______________
Lt.  Aleck  Walter  Hicks,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.  He assumed command of his company,
and led it forward in the most gallant
manner.  He sent back valuable information.
______________
2nd  Lt.  Alfred  Thomas  Hill,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He led his platoon forward in the
face of very heavy hostile fire,  and was
largely responsible for checking the enemy's
advance at a critical time.
______________
2nd  Lt.  Richmond  Gordon  Howell-Price,
Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He led his platoon in the most gallant
manner,  and was largely responsible for
the success of the operations.
______________
2nd  Lt.  Herbert John Hunt, M.G. Corps.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He fought his machine guns with
great gallantry,  and rendered invaluable
assistance throughout the operations. He
set a fine example to his men.
______________
Lt.  Norman George Imlay, Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He handled his machine guns with
the greatest skill,  and inspired his men by

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6004 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 18 JUNE, 1917.
his fine personal example.  Later, he personally
covered the retirement of his men.
______________
Lt.  Robert George Jackson, Fd. Arty.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.    At great personal risk he extinguished
a fire which broke out in an ammunition
dump.    He has at all times set a 
splendid example of courage and determination.
______________
Lt.  George Edward Jamieson, M.G.  Corps.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He handled his machine guns with
the greatest skill,  and materially assisted in
repelling a strong enemy attack.   He has at
all times set a splendid example of courage
and initiative.
______________
Lt.  Walter Seaborn Jones,  Engrs.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He displayed great courage and initiative
on several occasions in organising
parties to rescue men who had been buried.
______________
Lt.  William Duncan Kenyon,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He led his platoon in the attack and
inspired his men to such an extent by his
courage and determination that they achieved
what was almost an impossible task.
______________
Lt.  John Strachan Kerr, Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.  He led his platoon with great gallantry 
and carried his men with him through
uncut wire into the second objective.   He
set a splendid example of courage and initiative
throughout the operations.
______________
Lt.  William Duncan Kirkland,  A.A.M.C.,
attd. Fd. Arty.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   During hostile shelling two ammunition 
dumps were set on fire also causing
several casualties.   He immediately went to
the assistance of the wounded, and, regardless
of heavy shell fire and numerous explosions,
dressed their wounds.   He has at all
times set a fine example.
______________
Lt.  Claude Lawrence Lacey,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He showed great skill and courage in
leading the attack made by his battalion. He
captured the position with several prisoners
and a machine gun.   He consolidated his
position and later successfully repelled an
enemy counter-attack.
______________
Lt.  Joe Tilson Lang, Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He has rendered invaluable service
while in charge of patrols and has obtained
much valuable information.
______________
Lt.  Geoffery Heydon Leslie, Infy
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.  He led his platoon in the most gallant
manner,  and succeeded in establishing an
advanced post in spite of being subjected to
very heavy hostile fire.

Lt.  Roderic  Archibald  Macapline,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to 
duty.   He led his platoon with great dash
against a large party of the enemy,  and
accounted for practically all of them.
Later,  he assumed command of his company,
and by his skilful leadership saved a critical
situation.
______________
Lt.  William Maclaren,  Fld.  Arty.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion
duty.   He withdrew his guns from their pits
and brought them into action to a flank at a
range of about 400 yards,  and thus
materially assisted in repelling an enemy
attack.
______________
Capt.  George Nicholas Mann,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.    He led his company in the most
gallant manner , and succeeded in capturing
forty-five unwounded prisoners.   Later,  he
took command of another company in addition
to his own,  and directed the advance of
both companies.
______________
2nd  Lt.  Norman Martin,  M.G.  Corps.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to 
duty.    His subsection was attacked in the
rear by overpowering numbers,  and seeing
no hope of saving his guns,  he caused them
to be destroyed,  and fought his way through.
Later,  he organised scattered elements  of
infantry and organised a successful attack,
driving the enemy back.
______________
Lt. William Fitzroy Heatley Master,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.    He rallied his men under very heavy
fire,  and inspired them by his magnificent
personal example.  He was wounded.
______________
Temp. Capt. William John McBride, Engrs.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.    He organised the defence of a deep
mine system,  and also parties to rescue
several men who had been gassed.  His
prompt action undoubtedly saved many lives.
______________
Capt.  John Hinwood McDonald,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.  He led his company in the most
gallant manner,  and was largely responsible
for the success of the operations.  He set a
fine example to his men.
______________
Capt.  Robert Bruce McIntosh,  Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.   He commanded the right company in
the attack,  and showed great courage in
leading his men through enemy wire which
was uncut.  He was severely wounded.
______________
Lt.  Randolph George Finlay McMahon,
Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to 
duty.  He organised and skilfully led a
counter-attack which drove back the enemy
with heavy losses.  He set a fine example of
courage and initiative.
______________
Lt.  (now Capt.) John Arthur Mitchell, Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty.  He led his platoon with great
gallantry,  and captured the first objective.

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