Flying Officer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves - 146 Squadron - Service No. 101478
John Alan Henderson was born on 24th February 1922 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. His father was Sydney Stedman Henderson (who possibly died in 1933 in Australia), and his mother was Nellie F (née Holland). The first school that he attended was in Australia.
In 1934 John Henderson, having come to Gravesend with his mother, joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Reverend Samuel Lister. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station (now the Victoria Centre for Education). In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists John’s address as 110 Wrotham Road, Gravesend. Whilst at the School, John was in Town House.
In 1936 John left the School and became a Mercantile Marine Apprentice. In the 1939 census he is listed as a Voluntary Ambulance Warden living with his mother and her parents. The following year, John enlisted with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves, becoming a Flying Officer, Service Number 102617. He was first sent to the Sudan, then India in January 1942. In India he joined 146 Squadron – a fighter unit flying Hawker Hurricanes over Burma (Myanmar) from Chittagong.
On 2nd May 1943, John Henderson did not return after combat North East of Dohazari. Wreckage of his plane was found a few days later. He was 21 years old. He is remembered at Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar, 11. F. 15.
There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Below are links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2086134/henderson,-john-alan/
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=80239
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/146_wwII.html
https://www.theaircadets.org/information/squadron-history/146-raf-squadron/