Edward David Higham
- Family History
- Military History
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Edward David Higham was born in 1892 in Nottingham and was the son of Peter Jonathon a boot maker and Mary Elizabeth Higham née Brunt of 23 Arundel Street, Derby Road, Nottingham. His father Peter was born in 1863 in Nottingham and his mother Mary Elizabeth Brunt was born in 1861 in Nottingham, they were married in 1888 in Nottingham and went on to the have the following children, John Brunt b1890, Noel b1891, David Edward b1892, Frank Gilbert b1894 and Violet May Higham b1902, all the children were born in Nottingham. In 1911 census the family were living at 23 Arundel Street Derby Road Nottingham and were shown as Peter Johnathon 48 yrs a boot maker he is living with his wife Mary Elizabeth 50 yrs and their children John Brunt 21 yrs an assistant in a boot shop, David Edward 19 yrs a bank clerk, Frank Gilbert 17 yrs an assistant in a bakehouse and Violet Mary 9 yrs a scholar, also living with the family is Lizzie Kirk 35 yrs a domestic servant. Soldiers Effects Register; 7/9/1915 - £2-12s-8d to Executors Peter and Mary E Higham; 26/7/1919 - £3 war gratuity to Executors Peter and Mary E Higham
Lance Corporal Edward David Higham, enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 23 September 1914. After training he was posted to the 1st Battalion in France on 6 March 1915 and five days later he was killed in action. On 11th March 1915, the battalion were involved in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and at 10 am, 'C' company advanced north east through an orchard on the left of the battalion line and occupied some derelict buildings. The battalion was shelled throughout the day. At 4 pm, 'D' company charged the enemy breastworks but suffered heavy losses from machine gun fire and had to retire. During his second day in the front line Edward was killed. Le Touret Memorial Panel 26 & 27
Article published 26th March 1915 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- “KILLED IN ACTION. “Another Addition to Nottingham’s Roll of Honour. “The fierce fighting by which the victory was won at Neuve Chapelle took its toll of some of the bravest and most promising Nottingham men, amongst whom was private E. D. Higham, of the 1st Sherwood Foresters. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Higham, Arundel-street, Park-side, and known throughout a wide circle of chums and friends as Ted, Private Higham was one of the first of Nottingham's sons to join the City Battalion, but when that ill-fated unit fell through, he was drafted into the 3rd Sherwood Foresters, stationed at Crownhill Barracks, Plymouth. Later he was transferred to the 1st Battalion. It was a tribute to the soldierly way in which Private Higham had approached his new duties that he should so soon have been transferred to a unit actively at grips with the enemy. “He had, however, only been on the Continent some few weeks [2] when in a hot street battle in the village of Neuve Chapelle itself he met a soldier's end. “Private Higham, who comes of a well-known Nottingham family, was educated at Bentham Grammar School and Ingleton Rectory, Yorkshire. He was 23 years of age, and a member of the local staff of Lloyds Bank. He was keenly interested in athletics, being a prominent member of the Nottingham Hockey Club and the Alexandra Park Tennis Club. “Mr. and Mrs. Higham have another son at present with the colours, Lieutenant Frank Higham, the 8th South Lancashires, now training at Bournemouth.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. His brother Lieutenant Frank Gilbert Higham, South Lancashire Regiment, landed in France on 17th June 1916. Later promoted to Captain and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. A further brother, Noel Higham, served as 1st. Air Mechanic with the Australian Flying Corps.
