Born in Hamilton 16 April 1863. His father was William Hendrie, Sr. a very wealthy businessman and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
William Hendrie Jr. received his early education at the private school of Dr. Chestnutt In Hamilton. Subsequently he attended Upper Canada College where he graduated in 1879. He then entered the office of Hendrie & Company, railroad contractors and cartage agents, as a sheet clerk and rose rapidly till he became manager of the concern.
Captain William Hendrie Jr was an original officer of the 48th on 19th February 1892. At the time of his father’s death in 1906, Captain Hendrie had been promoted to Major. On the death of his father, he became president of Hendrie and Company. He was also vice-president of the Hamilton Bridge Works, one of the largest organizations of its kind, and intimately connected with the. affairs of a number of other corporations.
William Hendrie Jr was Lieutenant Colonel and the Commanding Officer from May 1911 until May 1913.
On 18 Sep 14 he was attested at Valcartier into the 15th Bn, CEF as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He listed his occupation as contractor. He sailed with the 15th Bn (48th Highlanders) to England on 3 Oct 1914. He served in England and France with the 15th Bn, and 1st Canadian Remount Depot. He was the organizer of the Canadian Remount Depots in England and France, and, on his return to Canada in November, 1915 due to ill health, took command of the Fourth Infantry Brigade, training troops at Camp Borden.
He was president of the Ontario Jockey Club from 1919 until his sudden death on May 26, 1924.
In June, 1900, William Hendrie Jr. married Elizabeth Anne Brown, daughter of Mr. Adam Brown, of Hamilton. They had three children, William Brown Hendrie, George Campbell Hendrie and Mary Hendrie.
His son, Lieutenant-Colonel William Brown (Bill) Hendrie, also had a distinguished military career. Bill Hendrie served as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada, from January 16 to March 31, 1942
His brother, Sir John Strathearn Hendrie KCMG CVO, was Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from September 1914 to November 1919.
