Henderson, Robert Boal (Robert)
Rifleman
No. 2587, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action in France on Friday 7 July 1916 (aged 34)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A and 15 B)
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s)
BIOGRAPHY
Robert Boal Henderson was born on 10 February 1882 in Mill Street, Newtownards and he was a son of James and Ann (Annie) Henderson (nee McCormick, sometimes McCormic, sometimes McCormac, sometimes McCormack) who were married on 20 May 1871 in Fourth Newtownards Presbyterian Church.
The Henderson family lived in Mill Street, Newtownards
James Henderson worked as a general labourer and he and Annie had eight children:
Matilda (born 13 November 1872 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Thomas (born 10 May 1874 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Maria (born 17 February 1876 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
William James (born 8 April 1878 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
John (born 19 March 1880 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Robert Boal (born 10 February 1882 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Henry (born 10 May 1884 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Samuel (born 11 November 1887 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Robert Henderson worked as general labourer and then as a carter and he and Prudence Clarke were married on 13 July 1903 in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards.
Robert and Prudence Henderson (nee Clarke) had two children:
Sarah (born 20 September 1904 in Queen Street, Newtownards)
James (born 3 December 1905 in Queen Street, Newtownards)
Both children were baptised in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church.
Their mother, Prudence Henderson, died of tuberculosis on 9 September 1908 (aged 27) in Queen Street, Newtownards.
After his wife died, Robert Henderson lived with his parents in Mill Street, Newtownards and his two children lived in Queen Street, Newtownards with James and Sarah Clarke their maternal grandparents.
Robert Henderson enlisted in Newtownards and he served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. He was 34 when he was killed in action on 7 July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme while the Battalion was holding a section of the front line captured from the enemy. Rifleman Robert Henderson has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France; on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s).