G F R Henderson
George Francis Robert Henderson was born in St Helier, Jersey, in June 1854. He won a scholarship to St John's College, Oxford, but did not graduate. In 1876 he entered Sandhurst, and on 1 May 1878 he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the York and Lancaster regiment. He saw war service in Egypt in 1882, and later served in the ordnance store department. In his spare time he undertook much research and published his first book The Campaign of Fredericksburg in 1886. In 1890 he started the first of a series of teaching positions at Sandhurst, and in December 1892 he was appointed Professor of Military Art and History at the same institution. As such he became an important ‘thinker’ within the Army and his teaching on tactics and strategy influenced many. He continued to write during this period. In 1899 he accompanied Lord Roberts to South Africa as part of his staff. The campaign is said to have proved too much for his delicate health, and he was invalided home in November 1900. He eventually returned to staff appointments at the War Office, and then to command in Egypt, where he died in March 1903. At the time of his death he was working on a History of the South African War and had completed the first volume. Henderson was a gifted historian, writer, and lecturer. He was an able staff officer, at a time when the full benefits of having such a man were only starting to be appreciated. He was described as the most scientific British strategist of his time. Through his work at Sandhurst he exerted a profound influence on young officers, and also greatly influenced more senior ones. Roberts's strategy in South Africa, owed a lot to Henderson and he helped shape the course of the war. This insight was sorely missed when he was invalided home.
Books
- The Science of War : A Collection of essays and lectures, 1891-1903 Author
- The Battle of Spicheren August 6th 1870 Author
- The Battle of Woerth August 6th 1870 Author
