Harry ( Ronnie )'s Story.
EARLY LIFE
Harry Higgins was born on 8th August 1897 at Heaton Chapel, near Stockport, Cheshire, the son of Ellen Jane (née Williamson) and William Whittaker Higgins. He was commonly known among friends and family as Ronnie.
The 1901 census showed that the family had moved to Moss Lane, Bramhall, where three-year-old Ronnie was living with his parents and siblings Margaret (14), William (10), Harold (7) and John (9 months). In October 1902 Ronnie was enrolled at Pownall Green County Primary School, Bramhall; the family was then living at Lumb Lane, Bramhall. Ronnie left Pownall Green school in September 1906 to continue his education at Macclesfield Grammar School.
By 1911 the family had moved again, to "Ashdene", Kitt's Moss Lane, Bramhall. The family later lived at "Glenroyd", Ack Lane, Bramhall.
WW1 SERVICE
Ronnie joined the Royal Fusiliers in June 1916, initially with service number 2742, and after training was drafted overseas in October the same year. At some point he was transferred to the 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and given service number 50218.
In February 1917 Ronnie was repatriated to a hospital in England after suffering from the after-effects of a gas attack. The Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser reported on 2nd March 1917:
BRAMHALL SOLDIER GASSED - We have been informed that Private Ronnie Higgins, Royal Fusiliers, was gassed at the front on February 11th. He is now in hospital and is on the high road to complete recovery. Private R Higgins, who is nineteen years of age, is the son of Mr and Mrs W W Higgins, of Kitts Moss Lane. He joined the Army only last June, and went out to the front in October....
His elder brother, Private Stanley Higgins, R.G.A., has just recovered from an illness, and is at present on sick and last leave. He arrived in Bramhall on Saturday last, and will return to his battery next Tuesday, after which he expects to proceed to the front. He joined the Royal Fusiliers in February, 1916, and trained as a signaller in this regiment. He was transferred at Christmas to the R.G.A. Private S Higgins is 25 years of age, and before joining the Army he worked with his father in Manchester.
Ronnie returned to the front but was killed in action by a piece of shrapnel ten months later. His death was reported in the Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser on 8th February 1918:
Much sympathy has been expressed with Mr and Mrs W W Higgins, of Ashdene, Bramhall, who have received official notification that their third son, Private Harry (Ronnie) Higgins, has been killed in action. He is the second son whom Mr and Mrs Higgins have lost owing to the war, their elder son, H W Higgins, having died from injuries received in action in June 1915. Harry enlisted on becoming of military age in June 1916, and had seen much active service with his battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He was 20 years of age, and was killed on the 24th January by a piece of falling shrapnel. When he enlisted he was employed by Messrs Tootal Broadhurst, Lee & Co, Manchester, and was highly esteemed by his colleagues there and at Bramhall.
Elsewhere in the same newspaper was the following report:
PRIVATE HARRY HIGGINS - The news of the death of Private Harry Higgins came as a great shock to the residents of Bramhall. Familiarly known as Ronnie Higgins, he inherited from his father a keen love of sport, and excelled at cricket and football. Possessing an engaging personality, he seemed to be the leading spirit when surrounded by his companions, to whom he ever provided a staunch friend....
COMMEMORATION
Private Ronnie Higgins is buried in plot I. D. 4. of Croix-du-Bac British Cemetery, Steenwerck, France.
Locally, Private Ronnie Higgins is commemorated on the Bramhall Wesleyan Church, Bramhall St Michael’s Church, Bramhall (Bramhall Lane), and Macclesfield Grammar School war memorials. He is also remembered on the family gravestone at Christ Church, Woodford, near Bramhall (plot E1).
NOTES
Brother of William Stanley Higgins, who served as Gunner 139038 with 228 Siege Battery RGA and survived the war; and Harold Higgins who served as Private 2460, 1/6th 1/6th Bn Manchester Regiment, and died of wounds on 6th June 1915.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
National School Admission Registers, Cheshire (Find My Past)
WWI Absent Voters' List, 1918 (Find My Past)
WWI British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects
WWI British Army Medal Rolls Index Cards
Family History Society of Cheshire Memorial Inscriptions (Find My Past)
Find A Grave website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser: 2nd March 1917, 8th Feb 1918
Harry Higgins was born on 8th August 1897 at Heaton Chapel, near Stockport, Cheshire, the son of Ellen Jane (née Williamson) and William Whittaker Higgins. He was commonly known among friends and family as Ronnie.
The 1901 census showed that the family had moved to Moss Lane, Bramhall, where three-year-old Ronnie was living with his parents and siblings Margaret (14), William (10), Harold (7) and John (9 months). In October 1902 Ronnie was enrolled at Pownall Green County Primary School, Bramhall; the family was then living at Lumb Lane, Bramhall. Ronnie left Pownall Green school in September 1906 to continue his education at Macclesfield Grammar School.
By 1911 the family had moved again, to "Ashdene", Kitt's Moss Lane, Bramhall. The family later lived at "Glenroyd", Ack Lane, Bramhall.
WW1 SERVICE
Ronnie joined the Royal Fusiliers in June 1916, initially with service number 2742, and after training was drafted overseas in October the same year. At some point he was transferred to the 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and given service number 50218.
In February 1917 Ronnie was repatriated to a hospital in England after suffering from the after-effects of a gas attack. The Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser reported on 2nd March 1917:
BRAMHALL SOLDIER GASSED - We have been informed that Private Ronnie Higgins, Royal Fusiliers, was gassed at the front on February 11th. He is now in hospital and is on the high road to complete recovery. Private R Higgins, who is nineteen years of age, is the son of Mr and Mrs W W Higgins, of Kitts Moss Lane. He joined the Army only last June, and went out to the front in October....
His elder brother, Private Stanley Higgins, R.G.A., has just recovered from an illness, and is at present on sick and last leave. He arrived in Bramhall on Saturday last, and will return to his battery next Tuesday, after which he expects to proceed to the front. He joined the Royal Fusiliers in February, 1916, and trained as a signaller in this regiment. He was transferred at Christmas to the R.G.A. Private S Higgins is 25 years of age, and before joining the Army he worked with his father in Manchester.
Ronnie returned to the front but was killed in action by a piece of shrapnel ten months later. His death was reported in the Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser on 8th February 1918:
Much sympathy has been expressed with Mr and Mrs W W Higgins, of Ashdene, Bramhall, who have received official notification that their third son, Private Harry (Ronnie) Higgins, has been killed in action. He is the second son whom Mr and Mrs Higgins have lost owing to the war, their elder son, H W Higgins, having died from injuries received in action in June 1915. Harry enlisted on becoming of military age in June 1916, and had seen much active service with his battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He was 20 years of age, and was killed on the 24th January by a piece of falling shrapnel. When he enlisted he was employed by Messrs Tootal Broadhurst, Lee & Co, Manchester, and was highly esteemed by his colleagues there and at Bramhall.
Elsewhere in the same newspaper was the following report:
PRIVATE HARRY HIGGINS - The news of the death of Private Harry Higgins came as a great shock to the residents of Bramhall. Familiarly known as Ronnie Higgins, he inherited from his father a keen love of sport, and excelled at cricket and football. Possessing an engaging personality, he seemed to be the leading spirit when surrounded by his companions, to whom he ever provided a staunch friend....
COMMEMORATION
Private Ronnie Higgins is buried in plot I. D. 4. of Croix-du-Bac British Cemetery, Steenwerck, France.
Locally, Private Ronnie Higgins is commemorated on the Bramhall Wesleyan Church, Bramhall St Michael’s Church, Bramhall (Bramhall Lane), and Macclesfield Grammar School war memorials. He is also remembered on the family gravestone at Christ Church, Woodford, near Bramhall (plot E1).
NOTES
Brother of William Stanley Higgins, who served as Gunner 139038 with 228 Siege Battery RGA and survived the war; and Harold Higgins who served as Private 2460, 1/6th 1/6th Bn Manchester Regiment, and died of wounds on 6th June 1915.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
National School Admission Registers, Cheshire (Find My Past)
WWI Absent Voters' List, 1918 (Find My Past)
WWI British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects
WWI British Army Medal Rolls Index Cards
Family History Society of Cheshire Memorial Inscriptions (Find My Past)
Find A Grave website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser: 2nd March 1917, 8th Feb 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.