283

AJM/NF (right aligned)
427204 : Flight Sergeant Matthew Roland HENDERSON.
FATHER : Mr. M.C. Henderson of Dunedin.

Matthew Henderson was born in Dunedin on the 3rd December 1918. He received his secondary education at Otago Boys' High School, where he passed the University Entrance examination. In 1938 he attended Otago University and gained his Medical Intermediate. In 1939 he attended Canterbury Agricultural College and in 1940 Sydney University in order to study for his Veterinary Degree. He enlisted in November, 1940, in Australia and served there with the 1st Cavalry Division to May, 1941, being discharged from the Australian Military Forces in order to join the Royal Australian Air Force. Instead he returned to New Zealand and applied on the 12th December, 1941, for enlistment in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Flight Sergeant Henderson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, on the 23rd July, 1942, and employed on ground duties until remustered to aircrew on the 13th September. He embarked for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme, on the 10th November, 1942.

F/Sgt. Henderson arrived in Canada on the 27th November and on the 6th December was posted to No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta, for a short course and thence on the 28th of the same month to No. 7 Air Observers School, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, where - on the 30th April, 1943 - he was awarded the air navigator's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 30th October, 1943. Meanwhile, on the 11th May, 1943, he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

F/Sgt. Henderson arrived at No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Despatch & Receiving Centre, Brighton, on the 6th June, 1943, and on the 22nd of the same month was posted to No. 4 Air Observers' School, West Freugh, Scotland, and thence - on the 10th August to No. 11 Operational Training Unit at Westcott, Buckinghamshire and the nearby satellite