Keptie
Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 939 Location: near Arbroath Angus
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:01 pm Post subject: Loch Laggan:Cpl James Hendry GC; PHOTO REQUIRED |
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I came across an interesting memorial and info board at the side of LOCH LAGGAN ( A 86 road to Fort William ) recording the deaths of CORPORAL JAMES HENDRY GC , Royal Canadian Engineers died 13th June 1941 aged 29 years during construction of nearby Hydro Electric tunnel posthumously awarded the George Cross for conspicuous gallantry in alerting comrades before attempting to prevent an explosion SAPPER JOHN M STEWART , RCEng died Simultaneously aged 28 years .
This memorial was erected by Balfour Beatty and Rio Tinto Alcan.
Cpl Hendry was born in FALKIRK in Scotland on 20th December 1911 to John and Janet Hendry . The family emigrated to Ontario when Cpl James Hendry was only 2 years old . Cpl Hendry is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey.
Seems that this Memorial cairn was unveiled during August 2008 with the presence of William Hendry from Thunder Bay Ontario Canada in attendance ... William Hendry being the last surviving brother of Cpl James Hendry GC.
CWGC index shows :
HENDRY James : Corporal B/ 28593 , aged 29 years , died 13th June 1941 : Royal Canadian Engineers : 1 Tunnelling Coy., George Cross award, son of John & Janet Hendry of Geraldton , Ontario Canada .
Grave Brookwood Military Cemetery : grave ref 31 F 9 in Surrey England
London Gazette of 30th March 1943 records the King honouring Cpl B/28593 James Hendry with a Posthumous George Cross
The Scottish National War Memorial , the Castle Edinburgh records him as being
HENDRY , James , Acting Corporal ; B/ 28593 , 1 Cdn Drilling Coy, CANADIAN ARMY , death on 13th June 1941 and award of GEORGE CROSS : Theatre of death not shown
CWGC index shows :
STEWART : John McDougall : Sapper C / 19665, aged 28 years , death on 13th June 1941 : Royal Canadian Engineers 1 Tunnelling Coy., son of Robert M Stewart and Margaret Stewart of Almonte Ontario , Husband of Lyle Stewart .
Grave : Brookwood Military Cemetery Surrey grave ref 31 F 10
The info board has an early photograph of Cpl J Hendry CG. in mining clothes and a military one taken 1940
The memorial wording:
MEMORIAL TO CORPORAL JAMES HENDRY GC - ROYAL CANADIAN ENGINEERS - DIED 13TH JUNE 1941 AGED 29 , DURING CONSTRUCTION OF NEARBY HYDRO ELECTRIC TUNNEL POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE GEORGE CROSS FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY IN ALLERTING COMRADES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO PREVENT AN EXPLOSION - SAPPER JOHN M STEWART RCEng DIED SIMULTANEOUSLY AGED 28.
ERECTED BY BALFOUR BEATTY AND RIO TINTO ALCAN .
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PHOTO REQUIRED ++
patrick w anderson |
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