Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"OBITUARY. MAJOR JAMES DOUGLAS HENRY D.S.O. O.B.E. 

HERBERTON. November 22.

Major James Douglas Henry, who died in Atherton on November 18, Was born at Clermont, Queensland, on May 26, 1880, and was the son of Captain and Mrs. Alfred Henry, of Hughenden, early settlers and pioneers of the north. From his earliest years Major Douglas Henry displayed a love of adventure, and his profession as mining engineer provided scope for the change and activity which later led him all over the world. When very young he was mining and engineering in the Gulf of Carpentaria and in the North generally, and he is still remembered by old residents and miners of Herberton, as for a time he worked on the famous Deep Lead at Wondecla. On leaving the North he began his career as a soldier, serving in three campaigns with distinction - the South African War, the Zulu Rebellion, and the First World War. In the South African campaign he was one of the "Queensland Bushmen," and there he gained his commission. In the First World War he commanded the 1st Australian Tunnellers and received the D.S.O. for work in the Ypres Salient notably at the blowing up of the famous Hill 60. He was a man of courage and high honour. 

In January, 1939 , Major Douglas Henry returned to Queensland bringing his family, because of the unsettled state of Europe, and believing that another and a greater war was inevitable. He bought property on the Deep Lead, Wondecla, where he had worked as a young man. Although he had been severely wounded and suffered from old injuries, he became a active and well-known resident, and his interest in the present war was engrossing. Until a few months ago he was active in patriotic movements and did quite a lot of travelling to and from southern cities. He was greatly respected and made many new friends in the district in addition to the old ones who rallied round when it was known that the man who had been away so long (that by many he was thought to have passed on) had come back from adventure and chance and change to live again in the place that had known him so long ago. Major Douglas Henry was interred at Riversbend, Wondecla, on the 20th instant, at 9 a.m., on his own property. Military friends acted as pall bearers, and the funeral was of a military character. A number of Herberton Diggers were present to pay their last respects to one who had fought with them in France and an army bugler sounded the Last Post and the Reveille Rev. Father Meagher of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, conducted the service by the grave side. Many friends were also present. 

The deceased is survived by his wife, one daughter (Mrs. M. Wessels, of Green Springs. Wondecla), and two young sons, James and Richard, also by two sisters, Mrs. A. A. Doyle, of Kooindah; via Newcastle, N.S.W.; and Mrs. T. B. Perrier; of Upperfold, Innisfail (now in Brisbane), and one brother, Mr. A. D. Henry, Brisbane. Friends attending the interment of Major Douglas Henry on Saturday last, and visitors to Riversbend include Miss Alison Perrier, of Audley Private Hospital, Atherton, niece of the deceased gentleman; Mrs. Atkinson, of Gunnawarra Station, Mr. and Mr Kjellberg, Mr. and Mrs. Clancy, Miss Dot Wood, all of Millaa Millaa: Mr. Meixner; of Ravenshoe: Mr. Stefansen of Cairns; Mr. Graham Ledlie and Mr. John Newell, of Herberton; Mr H. Hiscock, Wondecla; and a number of neighbours." - from the Cairns Post 26 Nov 1943 (nla.gov.au)