Name
Arthur Aken Higgins
1 January 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/10/1918
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Attached 115th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOIRAN MILITARY CEMETERY
V.H.9
Greece
Headstone Inscription
He has wakened from the dream of life
UK & Other Memorials
Stained Glass Window, Hitchin Boys Grammar School, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Arthur (junior) was the son of Arthur Akin (retired Captain in the Indian Army) Mildred Sarah Akin Higgins (née Matthews) and they married in 1882. Arthur (junior) was born in Calcutta, India around 1885 and christened in Kidderpore, Bengal, India on 1 January 1886.
In 1891 the family were living at 7 Comiston Road, Edinburgh. Present were both parents: Arthur (38) and Milred (33). Their children were: Dorothy (7), Arthur (5), William H (4), Donald (2) and Milred at 8 months. Another person was present in Ancestry records they were recorded as Winifred M Matthews (23), but as they were listed as a sailor, presumably this is a transcription error and perhaps it should Wilfred?
He attended the Hitchin Grammar School, but the dates are not known, however in 1901 at 15 he was still a pupil there.
His mother travelled from Southampton to the USA on 18 November 1919 (after his death) aboard the S.S. Mauretania.
Wartime Service
Arthur was originally a Captain in the Royal Army Veterinary Corp and then attached to the Royal Field Artillery in the 115th Brigade. It seems likely that he entered as an officer rather that rose from the ranks.
He first served in France, before Salonika.
At the time of his death, he was attached to the 115th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. He probably died of disease.
He was buried in Plot 5, Row H, Grave 9 in the Doiran Military Cemetery in Greece. Possibly due to earthquake activity in the area, the gravestones are placed flat and there is a private inscription on it reading “He has wakened from the dream of life” which was ordered by his mother, Mildred Akin Higgins, when she was living at Fairholme, Harrow, Middx.
Additional Information
On his Medal Rolls Index Card his mother’s address was given as 621 Utah Avenue, Santa Monica, California, USA.
After his death £20 9s 1d was authorised to go Holt & Co (solicitors?) in December 1918. Later, two more sums were authorised: £51 (3 March 1919) and £12 18s 5d (January 1919).
Probate was granted in 1919 with his effects of £140 going to his father at Fairholme, Green-hill Harrow, Middx.
In 1920 it was reported in the Daily Telegraph that Arthur Akin Higgins (senior) aged 65 was ordained at St Paul’s Catherdral as an assistant curate. It was reported that he was a great traveller having been “nine times around the world, and during the latter part of the war acted as temporary British Consul at Bergen, Norway.”
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
