Lieutenant General Sir David Henderson, KCB, KCVO, DSO was the senior leader of British military aviation during the First World War. The son of a shipbuilder on the Clyde, Henderson abandoned higher education at the University of Glasgow to pursue a career in the military.
Following officer training at the Royal Military College Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the British Army on 25 August 1883, joining the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as a Lieutenant.
In 1911, at the age of 49, he learned to fly, making him the world’s oldest pilot at that time. During this time he formed part of the technical sub-committee of the Air Committee which helped to decide the organisation of the Royal Flying Corps, which was formed on 13 April 1912.
A new Department of Military Aeronautics was established and Henderson was appointed the first Director. With the outbreak of the First World War, he took up command of the Royal Flying Corps in the Field.
In January 1918, he was made a member of the Air Council, serving as its vice-president. However, having not been appointed as the RAF’s Chief of the Air Staff, Henderson resigned from the Air Council in April, citing his desire to escape the atmosphere of intrigue at the Air Ministry.
Following his departure from the Air Council, he returned to France where he served until October 1918. After the armistice, Henderson served as a military counsellor during the Paris Peace Conference until the signing of the Versailles Treaty in June 1919. He then became Director-General of the League of Red Cross Societies in Geneva, where he died in 1921, aged 59.He is buried in Girvan, Ayrshire, and shares the same war grave as his pilot son Ian who was killed in a war time flying accident in 1918.
Artist’s Response
Sir David Henderson never let his age get in the way of what he wanted to do with his life. At the age of 49, he learned how to fly, making him the oldest pilot at that time. How was I going to convey this through my print? His story got me thinking about tradition, how his uniform would have meant so much to him. Furthermore, the silhouette, what would be an obvious shape to pick out. His hat, I then drew and plane flying round it which creates a clasp effect. I wanted to keep my print simple with the hat silhouette being the focal point of the print.
Arran Waddell
City of Glasgow College
Instagram: @arranwaddellstudio
Arran is currently in third year of study at the City of Glasgow College, working towards becoming a teacher whilst being able to establish himself in the art world. Arran also enjoys exploring both various media and performance arts.
