Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (6202 Pte. R. Henderson, 1st Rl. Innis. Fus.) nearly extremely fine £400-500

Private Robert Henderson was killed in action at the battle of Inniskilling Hill on 23 February 1900.

Inniskilling Hill was a high, steep unnamed hill that was attacked by Hart’s Irish Brigade during Buller’s third attempt to relieve Ladysmith by dislodging the Boers holding the Tugela Heights and which gained undying fame for the Inniskillings. They took so many casualties through their gallantry that the regiment had to be withdrawn from the Irish Brigade until reinforcements arrived. Stirling recorded in British Regiments in South Africa a general view of the regiment’s activities:

‘The Inniskilling Fusiliers were the front line, supported by the Connaught Rangers and part of the Dublin ... The first tier of the defensive works was carried in the face an awful fire from the front and flanks. An attempt, unsurpassed in its gallantry, was made to press in with the bayonet to the next line to trenches on the crest, but that failed. The attackers were mown down like grass ... ’

An officer of the Inniskillings, Lieutenant D. G. Auchlineck, recorded the attack in his diary in more detail:

‘Turned out to be the most eventful and fateful day of the war so far for the Inniskillings. Regt. started at daybreak and very soon they got into the shell fire. Reached the ridge about 8 a.m. and halted and waited there; Howitzer Battery took up a position near. At 12.30 the Regt. marched off to attack hill which proved almost impregnable, marched 3 miles along the railway in single file under a heavy musketry fire, across one bridge, afterwards christened Pom-pom bridge on account of the fearful Pom-poms and musketry fire which swept it. During this bit we lost 20 to 30 men. Arrived at our place of formation, we at once formed for attack A & F firing line B & D Supports, E, H, G and C Reserve. We drove the attack half way up the hill without losing very much, capturing a Boer laager. The fire then became very heavy and many men fell but no officer yet. We waited here some time pouring volleys into the Boer trenches. A few of the Connaughts and Dublins came up on our right and the I.L.I. [Imperial Light Infantry] on our extreme right. We then advanced over the railway cutting and took up a position on the far bank. The fire was still very heavy, sweeping the whole ridge and was here we rallied preparatory to the charge. Then the Regt. charged and men, and officers fell in dozens; after going some way the Regt. rallied and charged again and this time got to within 50 yards of the enemy’s trenches. Here the fire was awful coming from four different directions and it is marvelous how the men faced it. With the help of the supports we might have got right to the top but as it was, the regiment lay there all night and the enemy kept up an incessant fire’ (Cassidy, The Inniskilling Diaries).

The Inniskilling’s Commanding Officer, Colonel Thackeray was killed at the head of his men. Their losses were 3 officers and 54 men killed, with 8 officers and 165 men wounded. Their bravery in the frontal assault was depicted by many of the war artists of the campaign. Private Henderson is commemorated with his fallen comrades on the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons and Inniskilling Fusiliers memorial at Enniskillen and the 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers memorial tablet in Enniskillen parish church.