HIGGINS Harry Vincent 2/Lt

SKR/DAT/IP/20757

HIGGINS Harry Vincent 2/Lt

2000-2024

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Surname: HIGGINS;

Forename(s): Harry Vincent;

Initials: HV;

Rank: 2/Lt;

Born in: Rock Ferry;

Enlistment Date: 02-Sep-1914;

Resided in: Barnston, Cheshire;

Previous Number: 15167;

Previous Battalion: 17 of;

Previous Regiment: Liverpool Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 116 Coy;

Date abroad: 16-May-1916;

Theatre of War: 1;

How killed: KIA;

Where: France;

When killed: 03-Sep-1916;

Other Data: Sedbergh School Register 1875-1928: b 14/9/1882 son of EB Higgins of Oxton. At School 1896-1900. Corn Broker. Gt War - Lt L'pool Regt & MGC. Kia 3/9/1916
Disch to Commsn 9/4/1915

War diary - reported missing after attack near the Ancre 3/9/1916

Statement by Sgt Wm Wigglesworth, No 9180: "we went out on an attack of September 3rd at Hamel, at daybreak. We went over first and the Germans came out to meet us. I saw Lt Higgins in No-mans-Land with us and then we had to retire and I never saw him again. We went forward the second time and got into the German trenches but we had to retire again as we didn’t get reinforced. The second attack was over the same ground as the first. The Germans were swarming about so he might be a prisoner, but there was heavy shelling with big shells, so he might have been buried. If he is alive he must be a prisoner but I think he was smashed up. We had about 30 missing and we went to search next day, but nothing was found.

Estate: £3121/14/9d
Red Cross Enquiry Card

HIGGINS, Second Lieutenant, HARRY VINCENT, 116th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Inf). 3rd September 1916. Age 33. Son of E. B. Higgins, of Worplesdon, Surrey; husband of Hester Merrett Phelps (formerly Higgins), of Myrtle Cottage, Swanmore, Bishop's Waltham, Hants. VII. H. 7. (Serre Road Cemetery No 2- France)

Born Rock Ferry on 14/9/82. Educated at Sedbergh School. Husband of Hester Merrett Higgins of Brockenhurst, Barnston, Cheshire. Originally enlisted in Liverpool on 2/9/14 as Private No 15167 in 17 KLR [1st Liverpool Pals] - subsequently being appointed Lance Corporal 23/2/15. Occupation cotton salesman, height 5' 10", weight 137lbs with good physical development, complexion fresh, eyes grey, hair fair, religion CofE. His commission application is dated 1/4/15. Discharged to a commission in 17 KLR on 9/4/15. To Belton Camp 29/4/15. To France 16/5/16 (Southampton - Le Havre). Reported missing 3/9/16. An informant report dated 26/10/16 by No 9180 Sgt William Wigglesworth of No 1 Section 116 MG Company who was in No 3 Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne states:- "We went out in an attack on September 3rd at Hamel at daybreak. We went over first, and the Germans came out to meet us. I saw Lt Higgins in No-Man's-Land with us, and then we had to retire, and I never saw him again, as we did not get reinforced. The second attack was over the same ground as the first. The Germans were swarming out, so he might be a prisoner, but there was heavy shelling with big shells, so he might have been buried. If he is alive he must be a prisoner, but I think he was smashed up. We had about 30 missing, and we went next day to search, but nothing was found". Gazetted Lt 1/11/16 post dated by four months. His death was accepted for official purposes as 3/9/16 on 22/2/19. His widow was awarded a pension of £100 a year from 3/12/16 and a gratuity of £100. He left estate valued £3121 14s 9d. (Officers Papers - PRO )

He was Christened 15/10/82 in Rock Ferry - he was the son of Elton Bally Higgins and Mary Beaumont Higgins.

The death of Mary Jane Beaumont Higgins was registered in Eastham in 1893

HIGGINS Harry Vincent of Brockenhurst, Barnston, Cheshire. Died 3 September 1916 in France Probate London 1 July to Hester Merrett Higgins widow. Effects £3121 14s. 9d. (National Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and Administrations)

Higgins, Harry Vincent : (Mr. Tower), son of E. B. Higgins, Oxton; born September 14th, 1882; Joined 1896 left July, 1900. Cotton Broker. Great War :-Lieut, King's Liverpool Regt. And Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action September 3rd, 1916. (Sedburgh School Register)

The marriage of Harry Vincent Wiggins and Hester Merrett Wade in St Oswalds Church, Bidston was registered 2Q 1911.

The married of Hester M Higgins to Phillip B Phelps was registered in London 2Q 1921

This is the probate for his father:-
HIGGINS Elton Bally of Linksholme Worplesdon Surrey died 1 November 1942. Probate Llandudno 21 December to Mary Dorothy Higgins spinster. Effects £26309 15s. Resworn £26383 17s. 7d. (National Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and Administrations)

1911 Census RG14PN22042 RG78PN1309 RD452 SD2 ED39 SN154
Harry Vincent
Age: 28
Occupation : cotton salesman - employer
Address: Address: 15 Kingsmere Rd, South, Oxton, Birkenhead- the dwelling had 14 rooms - his aunts address
Estimated Birth Year: 1883
Where born: Rock Ferry
Father's Name: Elton Bally Higgins, widower, 58, cotton merchant - employer, b. Birkenhead
Elizabeth Jane Higgins, 56, unmarried aunt, b. Birkenhead
Walter Cruden Higgins, unmarried uncle, stockbroker, b. Birkenhead
Mary Dorothy Higgins, 27, sister, b. Rock Ferry
Annie Ashton, 36, cook
Elizabeth Cowlishaw, 35, waitress

1901 Census Class: RG13; Piece: 3399; Folio: 78; Page: 40.
Harry V Higgins
Age: 18
Address: 15 Kingsmere Rd, South, Oxton, Birkenhead
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1883
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Elton B Higgins, 48, cotton broker - employer, b. Birkenhead
Where born: Rock Ferry, Cheshire
Annie Weaver 22, cook
Ellen Evans 26, waitress

1891Census Class: RG12; Piece: 2892; Folio: 79; Page: 39; GSU roll: 6098002.
Harry V Higgins
Age: 8
Address: 15 Kingsmere Rd, South, Oxton, Birkenhead
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1883
Relation: Nephew
Father's Name: Elton B Higgins, 38, cotton broker - employer, b. Birkenhead
Where born: Tranmere, Cheshire
Walter C Higgins 40, unmarried uncle, stockbroker, b. Birkenhead - head of household
Elizabeth J Higgins 36, unmarried aunt, b. Birkenhead
Mary D Higgins 7, sister, b. Rock Ferry
Sarah Douglas 22, nurse
Florence Boyer 19, cook
Mary Higgins 27, waitress

He is commemorated on the following war memorials:-
Christ Church, Barnston Road, Barnston, Wirral
Liverpool Cotton Assoc Ltd., 620 Cotton Exch Building, Edmund St

Photo: GS Archives;

Other Notes: HIGGINS, Second Lieutenant, HARRY VINCENT, 116th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Inf). 3rd September 1916. Age 33. Son of E. B. Higgins, of Worplesdon, Surrey; husband of Hester Merritt Phelps (formerly Higgins), of Myrtle Cottage, Swanmore, Bishop's Waltham, Hants. VII. H. 7. Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 - Somme, France;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

END OF RECORD.

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