Name
William Arthur Higgins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
266000
Bedfordshire Regiment
5th (Reserve) Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
William Higgins was born in the summer of 1889 at St Albans. He was one of four sons and one daughter born to George and Amy Higgins. Two of his brothers also served in the Great War. George Higgins worked as a House Painter and at the time of the 1901 and 1911 Census the family lived at Bedmond Hill in Bedmond.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour first recorded William in January 1915, but did not note his military unit. In March 1915 he was recorded serving with the Hertfordshire Territorials in the Roll of Honour. At some point in 1916 William joined the 1st Hertfordshire’s and in September 1916 the Parish Magazine reported that he had been wounded.
By 1918 William had joined the Royal Engineers, and at some point during that year he was transferred to the 5th Bedfordshire’s. He was listed with this unit in the Absent Voter Records for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919, and on both occasions he gave his address at Bedmond.
William Higgins survived the War, as did brother Herbert. However his other brother, Thomas, was killed on 4th November 1918, and was the last man from Abbots Langley to die in action during the War.
Additional Information
Rank unknown. Formerly Hertfordshire Territorials; 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment; Royal Engineers
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
