Thomas Highton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George and Margaret Highton, nee Greedwood, came to Worksop around 1890 with a family of 4 children, Ada, Edward, Eliza and Margaret (the first two from a previous marriage of Margaret to Joseph Walton). George Highton was a retired licence victualler, the family living in Newgate Street, Grove Villa. There follow the births of 4 more children all born in Worksop, George, Thomas, Emma and Florence. Thomas was born in 1892 and volunteered to join the army in 1909 and by 1911 he was resident as a Private in the 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters b. Worksop at Crownhill Barracks Devon, age 19. His parents still occupied their Newgate Street house in 1911 but later moved to 15 Park Street, Worksop.
Thomas Highton enlisted at Worksop on the 27 Jan 1909 in the Sherwood Foresters Special Reserve, number 11174 age 17 years 8 months. After reaching the age of 18 on the 27 May he took the oath and joined the regular service. After his training, he went with his regiment to India in September 1911. Whilst there, he appears to have contracted a disease which placed him many times, on and off, in hospital, once for a period of 126 days. His medical record shows him to diagnosed with parathyphoid fever, malaria and tuberculosis. It was recommended he returned to England which he did in May 1914 where he was now deemed fit for service. On the 7th September 1914, he was sent to France and as he was wounded by gun shot to his right elbow, was returned once again back home on 22 Oct 1914. He spent the next few years in England and was promoted to Cpl in Sept 1916 and L/Sgt in March ’17. Whilst in Sunderland, he married Winifred Patricia Buchanan in the registry office on the 4th April 1917. He was then transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the North Staffs regiment, number 39606, and 5 days after his marriage was drafted with the expeditionary force and due to illness returned home in September. He spent time in army hospitals and even had an operation on his neck for glandular problems. Eventually he appeared before a medical board on the 13th Sept 1918 and was discharged on the 19 September 1918 as being permanently unfit for army service due to persistent illnesses contracted during his service in India. As well as his 1915 star, British and victory medal, he was awarded the Silver War badge number B15754 as m member of the 3rd North Staffordshire Regiment
Ex-Sergt Thomas Highton Retford Times 9 May 1919 The funeral of ex-Sergt Thomas Highton, Park Street, Worksop, took place at the New Cemetery on Friday. The deceased who was 27 years of age, died at Bradwell, where he lived. He enlisted in the Sherwoods in 1911 and went to France with the 2nd Battalion when war broke out. He went through the retreat from Mons, and was wounded in the right shoulder at Armentieres. After a long spell in hospital he was sent to Mesopotamia with the 7th Staffords, but on reaching Bagdad his health broke down and he was eventually discharged in December 1917. Afterwards he worked in the laboratory at Firth’s Steel Works. Ex-Sergt Highton stood 6’ 3” Military honours were accorded the deceased, a firing party from Clipston firing three volleys over the grave, whilst buglers sounded the “Last Post.” The Rev H Gray officiated. (There follows a list of mourners and floral tributes). His grave in Retford Road Cemetery is in Section 4, grave 191, unmarked. Research by Colin Dannatt
