Page 102 - ATKCM_30.04.15
P. 102
iah Smith, who was 17 years old in mid 1881, lived with his
parents a short distance from the Hensons, on West Street. It is
clear that he and Emma are close friends as, nine months later,
their child, William Henson, is born on 5th April 1882.
In April 1891, nine-year-old William was still living at the same
house with his grandmother, Elizabeth, but his mother, Emma,
was no longer there. For most of his life, at least until he was 16,
he lived in a large household dominated by his grandmother, his
mother and her two sisters. With the possible exception of his
uncle, Joseph, there was no strong male influence on his life.
We can well imagine that this strong-willed youth had become
quite a “Jack the Lad”.
Shortly after his 16th birthday, in May 1898, William turned up
at the recruiting office in Northampton, declaring that he was 18
years old. He signs up for three years with the Northamptonshire
Regiment. Up to that date he had still been living in Kings Cliffe
working as a labourer. Two days after signing on he is transferred
to the Suffolk Regiment and is sent to Bury St Edmunds where
he became Private 5130 William Henson.
In September 1898 he and the 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment are
posted to Malta and remain there for about four months before
returning to the UK. Although there was no conflict on Malta at
that time, there was a significant British force there, probably
as immediate back-up to the unrest in Crete and Kitchener’s
battles in the Sudan. The date of their return coincided with the
ending of hostilities in the Sudan.
The 1st Battalion remained in Bury St Edmunds until March
1900 when they were posted to South Africa. They remained
there until May 1901.
The second Boer War (1899 – 1902) was moving into its final
phase when William and the Suffolks headed out there. Up
until 1900 the British had not fared particularly well against the
Boers (Dutch settlers), who were supported and supplied by
both Germany and France. After several defeats at Colenso
and Spionkop, Britain significantly reinforced its army in South
Africa and eventually prevailed.
100
parents a short distance from the Hensons, on West Street. It is
clear that he and Emma are close friends as, nine months later,
their child, William Henson, is born on 5th April 1882.
In April 1891, nine-year-old William was still living at the same
house with his grandmother, Elizabeth, but his mother, Emma,
was no longer there. For most of his life, at least until he was 16,
he lived in a large household dominated by his grandmother, his
mother and her two sisters. With the possible exception of his
uncle, Joseph, there was no strong male influence on his life.
We can well imagine that this strong-willed youth had become
quite a “Jack the Lad”.
Shortly after his 16th birthday, in May 1898, William turned up
at the recruiting office in Northampton, declaring that he was 18
years old. He signs up for three years with the Northamptonshire
Regiment. Up to that date he had still been living in Kings Cliffe
working as a labourer. Two days after signing on he is transferred
to the Suffolk Regiment and is sent to Bury St Edmunds where
he became Private 5130 William Henson.
In September 1898 he and the 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment are
posted to Malta and remain there for about four months before
returning to the UK. Although there was no conflict on Malta at
that time, there was a significant British force there, probably
as immediate back-up to the unrest in Crete and Kitchener’s
battles in the Sudan. The date of their return coincided with the
ending of hostilities in the Sudan.
The 1st Battalion remained in Bury St Edmunds until March
1900 when they were posted to South Africa. They remained
there until May 1901.
The second Boer War (1899 – 1902) was moving into its final
phase when William and the Suffolks headed out there. Up
until 1900 the British had not fared particularly well against the
Boers (Dutch settlers), who were supported and supplied by
both Germany and France. After several defeats at Colenso
and Spionkop, Britain significantly reinforced its army in South
Africa and eventually prevailed.
100
