The Kenneth Petrie Collection, Part 1

A rare Great War M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant W. Henderson, 4/5th Battalion, Royal Highlanders, who onetime served on the Western Front as a Piper and was decorated for bravery in July 1916 Military Medal, G.V.R. (2147 Sjt. W. Henderson. 4/5 R. Hdrs-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (2147 L. Cpl. W. Henderson. R. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (2147 Sjt. W. Henderson. R. Highrs.) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £700-£900 --- M.M. London Gazette 23 August 1916. The original recommendation - taken from the War Diary of the 4th/5th Battalion, Black Watch - states: ‘While holding front line trenches in the Ferme du Bois section, on the morning and afternoon of 2 July 1916, Sergeant Henderson did excellent day patrol work from point S.10c.5.2 to S.10d.15, for the purpose of recovering wounded of the 12th Royal Sussex Regiment. One wounded man was found about 50 yards from the enemy’s line. After an hour and a quarters work this man was successfully brought back and over a broad ditch to our lines. Sergeant Henderson went out many times on the same quest.’ William Henderson, a member of ‘A’ Company, 4/5th Battalion, Black Watch, was recommended for the M.M. by Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. McL. Sceales on 4 July 1916, following the above cited deeds on the Festubert-Neuve Chapelle front (the same source refers). He originally entered the French theatre of war as a Corporal in late February 1915, but his MIC entry confirms subsequent service as a Piper. Shortly after being awarded his M.M., Henderson’s unit moved to the Somme, where it took over the line between the River Ancre and Beaucourt Road, and launched an attack against enemy positions opposite Hamel on 3 September 1916 - ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies advanced at dawn but were eventually driven back with losses of 218 men killed or wounded. In fact, the 4/5th Black Watch remained heavily engaged on the Somme front until November, attacks on the Schwaben Redoubt resulting in further heavy casualties.