Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
Higgins J E Pte 3140 James Edward 23 Inf Bn 21 Orchardist Single Pres
Address: Newmarket, Farnham St, 20
Next of Kin: Higgins, James, father, 20 Farnham St, Newmarket
86 Westbourne Rd, Kensington (by November 1917)
Enlisted: 28 Jul 1915
Embarked: A73 Commonwealth 26 Nov 1915
Date of Death: 27/09/1917 Corporal Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery
CWGC: "Son of James and Charlotte Louisa Barbara Higgins, of 86, Westbourne Rd.,
Kensington, Victoria, Australia. Native of Clydesdale, Victoria".
MENIN ROAD SOUTH MILITARY CEMETERY
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Flemington-Kensington Church News, November 1917
Corporal J E Higgins (of 86 Westbourne Rd) died of wounds in France on September 27th. Pte W Yeats (of 14 Marshall St) died of injuries in France on September 28th. Pte A J Raff (of 79 Market St) was killed in action in France on October 3rd. To the parents and relatives of these men we offer our sincere sympathy. "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee. When thou passes thro' the waters, I will be with thee".
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Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiries Bureau Correspondence
3140 Corporal James Edward Higgins
15th Light Trench Mortar Battery
D/W Sept 25th 1917 Dets.
Cpl James Higgins was in the 15th Bty. I did not know his number but he was the only man called Higgins in the battery. He lived in Melbourne. He was fair, clean shaven, slightly built, about 24 and about 5 ft 8 and single. I was told by Cpl E Clarke of 15th Bty who knew Higgins, that he had seen him very dangerously wounded with one leg blown off and the other one shattered. This occurred about the 25th Sept whilst Higgins and his gun team were taking up rations to the front line. I heard afterwards that Higgins had to have his shattered leg amputated and that he died shortly afterwards. I think he was buried in a cemetery at Dickebusch. The battery has put a cross over his grave with his name and number on it.
Inf: Pte W Colman 5057. 4 gun team
No 3 Can Gen Hosp
BOUOGNE 25.1.18
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I was in the 15th Battery with Cpl Higgins when he was a Private. His Christian name was Jim. I did not know his number. I didn't know anything of him before joining up. He was a tall, clean shaven fair man, between 10 and 11 stone and about 20 or 21. I was told by several men in the battery that Cpl Higgins and five men of his gun team were killed and wounded by a shell which fell into a place called Hooge Crater in which Higgins and his team were. I was told by Cpl Duncombe of our battery that he had been sent to find out what had happened to Higgins and his team and he found Higgins with both legs blown off though still alive. This occurred on the 25th Sept on the Ypres sector. I heard afterwards that Higgins had C/W in hospitals. I do not know where he was buried.
Ref: Pte F T H Watson 4623. Left section
No 3 Can Gen Hosp
BOULOGNE 28.12.17
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Cpl James Higgins was killed at Polygon Wood about 7 o'clock the neight before the advance on Sept 26th. He had been sent down to get a gun, and when coming back with it a shell got the lot. I was about 300 yards away and ran over and saw what had happened. Eight were hit, all of whom died. Cpl Higgins had one leg blown off and the other shattered. They tool him to the D/S. He came from Kensington, Melbourne, Bellairs Street I think.
Inf: L/Cpl A Harris 705
55 Gen Hosp
BOULOGNE 11.3.18
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1046659--1-.pdf
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War Service Commemorated
Flemington-Presbyterian-Church
Regimental Register
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