Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lance-Corporal W. J. Higgs, Wiltshire Regiment, recorded as died of wounds on the Western Front, 12 December 1914

1914 Star (8702 L. Cpl. W. J. Higgs. 2/Wilts: R.); British War and Victory Medals (8702 Pte. W. J. Higgs. Wilts. R.); Memorial Plaque (William James Higgs); and Memorial Scroll, last in a contemporary glazed display frame with Memorial Plaque enclosure slip, good very fine (lot) £300-400

William James Higgs was born in Reading, and was the son of Mr and Mrs J. E. Higgs of 3 Low Water, Frome, Somerset. He served during the Great War with the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment in the French theatre of war from 7 October 1914. Higgs’ parents, ‘received official information from the War Office on Wednesday that their only child Lance-Corporal W. J. Higgs of the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment had died in hospital at Coutrai (Belgium) from wounds received in action on Dec. 12th [1914].

Lance-Corporal Higgs who had seen three or four years’ service in the Army came home from Gibraltar with his battalion after the outbreak of war, proceeding to Flanders after a brief stay in England, where he had seen much of the hard winter fighting.

He was 22 years of age and prior to his joining the Army was employed by the Frome Co-operative Society. His father is on the Frome G.W.R. Staff.’ (article from the Somerset & Wilts Journal & West of England Advertiser, dated 12 March 1915, refers).

Higgs is recorded as having died as a result of a wound to his leg, this is at variance with Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919 where he is listed as ‘Died’ 12 December 1914. Lance-Corporal Higgs is buried in the Kortrijk (St. Jan) Communal Cemetery, Belgium.

Sold with transmittal letter for Princess Mary Christmas Tin, addressed to recipient’s father and issued on behalf of his late son, dated 14 October 1915; and War Office letter addressed to recipient’s father with regard to War Gratuity of £5, dated 24 June 1919.