True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: May, 2010
Reg.#7501, RNWMP Constable William John Henderson
Reg.#7501 William John Henderson was my great-uncle. He was one among the RNWMP members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force sent to Siberia.
According to my research, W. J. Henderson was buried on January 2, 1919, in Row A, grave 1, Canadian Plot, Russian Naval Cemetery, located about 3 miles to the southeast of Vladivostok.
His death was listed as meningitis.
RIP
The Russians allowed the funeral service to be conducted in the Cemetery Chapel and the officiating persons included L/Col Powell, Base Commandant; a party from the NWMP under Major G. S. Worsley; and Captain Playfair representing the Canadian Associated Press.
Constable Henderson is not on the RCMP Honour Roll due to his "death circumstances" but he is commemorated in Canada's National Book of Remembrance.
I have a photo copy of the newspaper column that embodied the January 4th, 1919 letter to his (William John's)father, W. L. Henderson from Major H. McCausland, Senior Chaplain, C. E. F. (Siberia).
I also have a couple of copies of newspaper photos. One reads: "Unveiling Ceremony in the Canadian plot of the Russian Naval Cemetery at Vladivostok, which took place on Sunday, June 1st, 1919.
The monument is dedicated to 14 Canadians who are buried there, and the use of the plot has been extended to British, French, and Americans. The clergymen who performed the ceremony were: Rev. (Major) Harold McCausland, M.C. Senior Chaplain of the C.E.F. (s), and Rev. (Capt.) J. M. E. Olivier, Roman Catholic Chaplain.
The second picture is from a different angle and reads: "Scene at the unveiling ceremony in the Russian Naval Cemetery, on June 1st, 1919. The tall, erect Officer at right-centre is Major-General James Elmsley of Toronto, OC of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (Siberian). At his right hand is Gen. Chichak, O.C. of Czech-Slovaks in the Vladivostok area. At the extreme right is Lt.- Col. Tassier, of the French Army, who is reading the Order of Service from the same leaf as Lt.- Col. Powell, Base Commandant.
A message from Bradley N. Hall, Secretary-General, Canadian Agency, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, May 24, 2005 said, "The cemetery you seek was formally known by the name Churkin Naval Cemetery. In it are interred 31 war dead. The plaque commemorates, by name, 13 others who died and were buried elsewhere in Russia but whose graves could not be confirmed.
This cemetery does cause us some difficulty. For many years access was restricted due to its location; however, the various Commonwealth Service Attaches were able to visit from time to time and provide reports.
Some ten years ago the Commission, with assistance from the Canadian Navy, manufactured and placed new headstones and spruced up the cemetery. Since then there has been a bit of vandalism and in fact, Henderson's headstone was one of those I have just had manufactured again and shipped to Vladivostok for replacement.
The Commission office responsible for the site is located in Maidenhead, England.
General enquiries can be sent to: outer.area@cwgc.org. In terms of a list of those buried there, you may search the database at www.cwgc.org or you may contact Johanne Neville of my office. She can provide you with a hard copy of all those buried in the cemetery or commemorated on the Vladivostok Memorial. She can be contacted directly at cwgc-canada@vac-acc.gc.ca"
"Joe, I was very pleased to learn of your website. Sincerely, Reg.#16768, Bud Squair (R'td)
*Dear Bud; sincere thanks to you for this very meaningful contribution to your great uncle W. J. Henderson as well as to the memory of all RNWMP members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (Siberia).
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
May 23, 2010
