Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

CANADIAN MEMORIAL CROSS

Date

1919

Materials

SILVER

No. Pieces

1

Diameter

3.2

Description

CANADIAN MEMORIAL CROSS. CROWN, MAPLE LEAVES & "GRI" CYPHER OBVERSE "160421 H.T. HENDERSON" REVERSE.

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

AWARDED TO NEXT OF KIN OF SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN ACTIVE SERVICE. 58,500 AWARDED. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS, INCLUDING THOSE DONATED BY MARGARET WHEELER. THIS MEMORIAL CROSS WAS AWARDED IN THE NAME OF THE DONOR'S UNCLE, HAROLD THOMPSON HENDERSON. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION WAS FOUND IN HENDERSON'S ATTESTATION PAPERS, ARTICLES FROM 1917 ISSUES OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, AND INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE LETHBRIDGE CENOTAPH COLLECTION ON THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE DIGITIZED ARCHIVE. HAROLD HENDERSON WAS BORN IN LETHBRIDGE ON MAY 21, 1889 TO WILLIAM AND MARGARET HENDERSON. HIS FATHER WAS THE ONE-TIME MAYOR OF THE CITY AND THE FAMILY WAS PROMINENT IN THE COMMUNITY. HENDERSON GRADUATED FROM UPPER CANADA COLLEGE AND OWNED AND OPERATED THE HENDERSON GARAGE BEFORE ENLISTING IN 1915 WITH THE 82ND BATTALION. HE ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON MAY 29, 1916, AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE YUKON BATTERY CANADIAN MOTOR MACHINE GUN BRIGADE SHORTLY AFTER. HENDERSON FOUGHT ON THE FRONT LINES IN FRANCE AT THE SOMME, COURCELETTE, AND FINALLY ARRAS, WHERE HE WAS KILLED ON FEBRUARY 22, 1917. HE WAS BURIED AT VILLERS STATION CEMETERY, AND AWARDED THE VICTORY MEDAL AND BRITISH WAR MEDAL. HIS MOTHER MARGARET ACCEPTED THE MEMORIAL CROSS AND DEATH PLAQUE IN HONOUR OF HER SON. DONOR MARGARET WHEELER WAS BORN TO ALBERT AND ETTA IVES, AND WAS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF PROMINENT LETHBRIDGE CITIZENS WILLIAM AND MARGARET HENDERSON. SHE MARRIED WILLIAM ASHLEY WHEELER OF SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC ON JULY 11, 1936. MARGARET WAS A GALT MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER AND CITY OF LETHBRIDGE ARCHIVES VOLUNTEER AND ASHLEY SPENT HIS CAREER WITH THE BANK OF MONTREAL. ASHLEY DIED IN LETHBRIDGE ON FEBRUARY 21, 1972, AND MARGARET ON JANUARY 5, 1988. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR HARDCOPIES OF OBITUARIES, HENDERSON'S MILITARY RECORDS, LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLES, AND INFORMATION ON FAMILY HISTORY.

Catalogue Number

P19880008006

Acquisition Date

1988-01

Collection

Museum

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