Captain James Hendry (MC)

• Age: 36
• From: Dundee
• Regiment: 1st Royal Scots Fus.
• Died on Wednesday 6th September 1916
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext Rouen
  Panel Ref: Officers A.8.1

Captain James Hendry. M.C. was one of those brave, sterling officers who were an asset to their regiment, and whose inspiration promoted a fine esprit de corps. By profession he was an electrical engineer. Educated at the Dundee High School, and afterwards at Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh, he recived his early trainingat Glasgow and Pittsburgh, USA. He had a vent for mechanics, and was very clever in anything requiring the use of his hands, as well as resourceful and diligent. Subsequently he became a partner in a Rochdale Engineering Works, and it was this important position which he surrendered in order to place his gifts, his enthusiasm, and his energies at the service of the King. It was September 4th, 1914 that he enlisted as a ranker in the Liverpool "Pals." From the outset he showed fine qualities of leadership, and his commission was given him on January 8th , 1915, in the 16th Royal Scots, commanded by Col. Sir George McCrae. Less than a month afterwards he received his first lieutenancy, and another month later his captaincy.

Hendry with his tall figure, commanding personality, had the confidence of his men to an unusual degree. Before the war, despite many per-occupations, he found time to act as secretary of a working lads club, which he formed and organised in Kensington, Liverpool. Careful, thorough, businesslike, he was also a man of upright principle, and to his home he was attached devotedly. He was the youngest son of Mr Andrew Hendry of Dundee, and in 1909 he married the eldest daughter of Mr A.C Mitchell of Halewood. They lived at Oxton and had one little son.

Especially heroic were the circumstances under which this splendid leader fell north of Bazentin-le-Petit. Earliin August, 1916 when the Somme was raging, his company were ordered to make a night bombing attack the objective to gain full possession of a trench of which the enemy held held the left end and ourselves the right. Between its two sections was a long barricade. Captian Hendry had laid his plans with the utmost care, and these eventually met with every success, but he himself was hit soon after he had jumed over the parapet. Even when removed to safety his thoughts were all for his men, though his injuries were grave. By words of instruction and encouragement he stimulated them to the completion of thier enterprise.

Fot this fine service, by which the 16th Royal Scots captured and consolidated about a hundred yards of the enemy's trench, he was awarded the Military Cross. The "London Gazette" in recording the achievement, stated that he led with great dash until severely wounded and displayed conspicious gallantry. But his wounds were mortal. One arm had to be amputated, and he died of gas gangrene in No 2 Red Cross Hospital, Rouen on September 6th , 1916.

Not only to his Battalion was his loss a severe one, but it was credibly stated that he was one of the best officers in the brigade. Sir George McCrae, in a touching tribute, that he had depended on him absolutely in any important engagement, so sure was his judgement and ability. Coupled with this testimony of a superior is that of a subaltern who saw in him "A soldier conscious of his responsibility and keen for duty. He was a friend to all who were associated with him, his work was thorough; to work with him was a pleasure."

Captain Hendry not only fought and died as a hero, but he made himself, however unconsciously, an example of unwavering devotion to a great purpose. Everyone knew that his heart and mind lay in his work, that he never turned from his resolves, and that, however great the hazards of hardship and danger he never spared himself. Called from the sphere of industrial management he applied himself to the adventures of battle with the ardour of a crusader, and his comrades admired both his efficiency and his sense of principle. "He was a man to know and trust through and through with never a suspicion of a corner or twist about him, and he would never do an unkind or unjust thing." so wrote his chaplain. 
        
"Captain Hendry was a gentleman" declared one of his men and that was a tribute brief and simple which the ranks held reserved for those of their leaders who had won their truest respect and regard.
Tributes such as these, simple in language, but obviously sincere, mean more to the sorrowing relatives than mere messages of condolence, they are the genuine feelings of those who seved alongside Captain Hendry on the field of battle, and who were able to appreciate his fine value under the sternest test man was ever called on to endure.

He fought nobly, and his memory is indelibly inscribed in the memories of those who had the good fortune to be associated with him either in military or civil life.

The above was taken from Liverpool's Scroll of Fame.

James now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"VERY DEARLY LOVED AND HONOURED HUSBAND OF ANITA McDONALD HENDRY"

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. 

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