A Private in the New Zealand Medical Corps during the First World War. He used a donkey to transport wounded soldiers during the Gallipoli campaign, and a photograph of him doing so was the basis of Horace M Moore-Jones' well-known watercolour painting of "Simpson and his donkey". Henderson fought at Passchendaele and the Somme, and later went blind as the result of gas poisoning during the war.
Henderson, Richard Alexander, 1895-1958
Henderson, Dick, 1895-1958
There are 3 related items to this topic
Manuscript
Henderson and his donkey
Date: 1987, 1989
From: Henderson, James Herbert, 1918-2005: Further papers
Reference: 92-281-4/2
Description: Contains material relating to the establishment of the identity of `the man with the donkey' as well as to the erecting of a statue to same Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Other
Ewers, Raymond Boultwood, 1917-1998 :[Anzac commemorative medallion. 1967]
Date: 1915 - 1967
By: Ewers, Raymond Boultwood, 1917-1998; Maxwell, Allan Cecil, 1889-1965
Reference: Curios-049-001
Description: A bronze medallion called the ANZAC Commemorative Medallion (in Australia) or the Gallipoli Medallion (in New Zealand). The obverse shows Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, 1893-1915, better known as 'Simpson' or 'the man with the donkey', helping a wounded soldier who is seated on the back of a donkey. (When Simpson was killed in 1915, the task of evacuating wounded by donkey was continued by a New Zealander, Pte. R.A. Henderson.) Beneath is a wreath of gum leaves. The reverse shows a map of Australia and New Zealand with the five stars of the Southern Cross constellation, and a fern wreath below. The medallion (not intended to be worn) is surmounted by St Edward's crown. The medallion is housed in a black leather box lined with purple satin and velvet. It is accompanied by a flier addressed to the recipient A C Maxwell, expressing the New Zealand government's appreciation of loyal service rendered in the Dardanelles Campaign of 1915. The flier also bears the New Zealand coat of arms. The Australian citation has a different text Another Gallipoli Medallion, awarded to Sidney Clement (1892-1915), is housed at Curios-029-046; attributed to 'artist unknown' but can be reasonably assumed that the artist is also Raymond Ewers The bronze medallion was instituted in 1967 for award to Australian and New Zealand personnel who participated in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. Allan Maxwell survived the War and lived until 1965 Quantity: 1 medal. Physical Description: Bronze medallion, 76 x 50 mm, in purple-lined black leather hinged box, 95 x 85 x 28 mm Provenance: Donation: Barrie Maxwell, Wellington, October 2013 Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - MS-Group-2252 - - Other material from the same donation is housed at MS-Group-2252, and in Ephemera and Oral History and Sound collections.
Online
Image
Moore-Jones, Horace Millichamp 1878-1922 :To the memory of our hero comrade 'Murphy' (S...
Date: 1915 - 1918
From: Moore-Jones, Horace Millichamp 1878-1922 :Sketches made at Anzac during the occupation of that portion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by the Imperial Forces. London, Hugh Rees [1916]
By: Bryce Publishers Ltd; Moore-Jones, Horace Millichamp, 1868-1922
Reference: C-057-002
Description: Supposedly shows John "Murphy" Simpson Kirkpatrick leading a donkey along a cliff path. A wounded soldier is on the donkey. 'Simpson' is, in fact, Richard Alexander Henderson The watercolour was copied by Moore-Jones from a photograph of a stretcher-bearer with the New Zealand Medical Corps, Richard Alexander Henderson. The photograph was taken by 3/210 Sergeant James Gardiner Jackson, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. This reproduction is from the original watercolour in the Australian War Memorial Museum at Canberra. Another version is in the Auckland Art Gallery, and there is also a version at the Commerce Club of Auckland. Moore-Jones produced several versions, either on site in Gallipoli or once he was invalided back to Britain. Other Titles - Spirit of Anzac Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph, coloured 340 x 255 mm