George Cecil Higham
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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George and Sarah Higham nee Barrowcliffe married in Worksop,1889. Over their married life they had a large family of 11 children, the eldest being George Cecil Higham. He was born in 1892 in Worksop as all the other siblings were. The children that followed were, John James, Mary Louisa, Bernard Herbert, Margaret Ellen, Albert Edward, Beatrice Annie, Leonard Hugh, Douglas Harry and Nora May. In 1901 the family were living at 223 Sandy Lane, Worksop and 10 years later had moved to 64 St Luke’s Terrace, Shireoaks where George Cecil was working as a wagon repairer.
Soldiers Record - George Cecil Higham was attested at Worksop 18 March 1909 joining the Sherwood Foresters Territorial Force at age 17. He carried out his 2 weeks annual training from 1910 to 1913. and embodied into the service on the 5th August 1914. He was promoted to Cpl 1 Nov 1914 and went to France on 2nd March 1915. On the 1 Aug 1915 he was wounded with gun shot wounds to the head, hospitalised at Boulogne and died 14 Aug 1915. G C Higham Worksop Guardian 20 August 1915“The news of the death on Saturday, at No 1 Base Hospital, from wounds in action on the 1st inst… of Corpl. Higham, of Shireoaks, caused no less sorrow, Though letters from the nursing sister had prepared his parents for the worst. Their loss is made all the more marked, and the grief al the more poignant from the fact that he was expected home on the day he died. Other members of the company who were to have come with him, had all gone well, having come home to England. He was the eldest son of Mr George Higham, Shireoaks, who was himself for eleven years an ardent member of the old Volunteers, until the exigency of his work at the colliery obliged him to leave the force. The son followed in his father’s footsteps, and had completed six years service in the Territorials when war broke out. He then signed on with others for a further year which had expired except for a few days when he was severely wounded in the head. No particulars have been officially obtained but the injury was so serious from the first that he was unable to write to his friends. Deceased was highly respected by all who knew him. He was a sides man at St Luke’s Church, where a memorial service will be held at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday next. The collection at the service will be donated to the Red Cross Society, as a slight acknowledgement of the care bestowed on our wounded. The Union Jack on the church was flown at half-mast, and a celebration of the Holy Communion was held on Tuesday morning which was attended by members of the family and friends”.
CWG additional information:- Son of George and Sarah Higham, of St. Luke's Terrace, Shireoaks, Worksop, Notts. Cemetery:- Bologne Eastern Part, France.Research by Colin Dannatt
