Major George Frederick Higgins

• Age: 36
• From: Rock Ferry, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 10th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Born in Rock Ferry on 29th January 1880, George Frederick Higgins was the eldest child and elder son of Frederick Crowther Higgins and his wife Charlotte (nee Cunliffe). His father was a Cotton Broker. His parents married in 1877 at St Peter's Church, Rock Ferry. 

On the 1881 Census the family lived at 2 Queens Road, Higher Bebington. His father, Frederick C. is aged 31 and is a cotton broker born in New Brighton, his mother Charlotte  is 33 years of age and was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool. They have one child, George F.  aged 1 they also  employ two servants; Margaret Jebb 23 and Elizabeth A. Humphreys 23.

On the 1891 Census the family had moved to “Sunnyside”, Egerton Park, Rock Ferry. his father Frederick C. is now 41 and a cotton broker, mother Charlotte is 43. They have four children in the household; George F. 11 a scholar, Elizabeth M. 9 a scholar born in Tranmere, Helen J. 8 a scholar born Tranmere, Vincent C. 5 born Tranmere. The family also employ two servants Rhoda Holdroft 20 and Mary Kissack 24.

By the time of the 1901 Census the family are still  at “Sunnyside”. His father, Frederick C. 51 is a cotton broker, mother Charlotte is 53. They again have four children in the household; George F. 21 a mercantile clerk, Elizabeth M. 18, Helen J. 17, Vincent C. 15. They again employ two servants; Ellen J. Francis 24 and Esther Norman 22.

George Frederick was educated at Warwick School, where he served in the School Cadet Corps, and later in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment. He worked with the Sea Insurance Co. Ltd, from 1896 until 1904, when he was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Liverpool Cotton Association, and Secretary in 1909.

On the 1911 Census the family are still  at “Sunnyside”. His father Frederick Crowther, is now 61 years of age and employed as a cotton broker, his mother Charlotte is 63. They advise that they have been married for 33 years and have had four children who are still at home and are listed as; George Frederick 31 Secretary to the Cotton Association, Elizabeth May 28, Helen Johnston 27, Vincent Cunliffe 25 automotive engineer, also 2 servants Margaret Sadler 32 and Elizabeth Jackson 34.

His pastime interests were many and varied, and he was a member of the choir of St. Peter's Church, Rock Ferry, the Mersey Rowing Club, Birkenhead Park Rugby Club, the Royal Golf Club, Hoylake and the Rock Ferry Cricket Club.

On the 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall he joined the 17th Battalion, and was gazetted Captain, commanding ”A' Company, on September 1st 1914. ”A' Company was mainly made up from men who had worked in the cotton business in Liverpool and was referred to as the Cotton Contingent. He gained his Majority on August 4th 1915, and crossed to France with the Battalion in November 1915.

A letter from Major Higgins was reproduced in the Liverpool Courier in its edition of 10th July 1916 under the header:

THE PALS

COLONEL LEADS THE CHARGE

Four successive waves

OFFICERS AND MEN WHO HAVE FALLEN

The following letter has been received from Capt G. F. Higgins the secretary of The Liverpool Cotton Association, and now serving with the 17th Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment) (The Pals). The letter was posted in the Cotton Exchange on Saturday, where it has been read with the greatest interest by members:

"Everything is going on as well as we had hoped, though the casualties in our brigade are not as heavy as in other brigades. Still we are paying heavily in numbers of casualties. We hear each day from the battalion, and a great number of men whose names will be in the casualty list are only very slightly wounded. The steel helmets have saved the lives of hundreds.

Our division has done excellently. We captured Montauban. I am afraid Dudley Scott has been wounded. The 18th Liverpools have suffered heavily.

Our division has been congratulated by the army commander for having obtained its objective, and having held on to the positions captured. The battalion were on the front line of attack on the 1st of July. They went over in four successive waves. The colonel led the charge in front of the first wave. He was splendid.The brigade attacked in beautiful ?, just as if they had been on parade, and got to the first objective in the time scheduled.

Our artillery has been splendid during the whole bombardment, and the co-operation between the artillery and infantry has been worked without a hitch"   
Major George Higgins was killed in action on or about 10^th July 1916 and Graham Maddocks at Page 111 of his book “Liverpool Pals” describes how:

In the early hours of the morning of 10th July, following a British bombardment, men of the 90th Brigade had succeeded in taking the German positions at the tip of (Trones) Wood, but by 10.00am they had been forced out again. They had sustained no fewer than 800 casualties, most of them from German shellfire. As the 89^th Brigade was in reserve, “A” Company of the 17^th Battalion, led by Major G. F. Higgins, was lent to the 90^th Brigade to mount an attack on the German positions to relieve the pressure on its troops, many of whom were still pinned down. This attack was made at 2.30pm on a German position on the south-west corner of the wood  , but the Germans were able to fire on the Liverpool men from their concealed positions and the Pals were forced to retreat. In the evening another attack was made by “A” Company and this, too, was repulsed. Major Higgins, however, was killed at the head of his men”. Maddocks adds that there is a hand-drawn map in existence (reproduced in his book) which shows this attack led by Higgins with an “X” marking the spot south of Trones Wood where he allegedly fell. It is not known when the map was drawn or by whom or even how accurate it is, but it shows Higgins having been buried on the western outskirts of the ruined village of Guillemont.  Guillemont remained in German hands until September 1916.

Despite the reported burial George's body was subsequently lost, as he is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme at Thiepval. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

The murderous fighting that went on inside Trones Wood rendered it impossible to put specific dates on some of the casualties which is why many of the 17^th Battalion losses have been bracketed as killed in action between 10^th – 12th July 1916. The conditions are best described in the following passage from Everard Wyrall’s book The History of The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) Volume II: 

The remembrance of Trones Wood in July 1916 to those who passed through it is of a noisome, horrible place, of a tangled mass of trees and undergrowth which had been tossed and flung about in frightful confusion by the shells of both sides. Of the ghastly dead which lay about in all directions, and of DEATH, lurking in every hole and corner with greedy hands ready to snatch the lives of the unwary. The place was Death trap, and although the attacks were made with great determination,   the presence of snipers who could not be detected and often fired into the backs of our men made the clearing of the wood impossible.

Reaction to his death was received by the Liverpool Cotton Association, the Directors of which passed the following resolution to record their sorrow at his death.

“His work on behalf of the members was untiring, his kindly manner and cheerful disposition endearing him to all.” 

Lord Derby telegraphed to the President of the Liverpool Cotton Exchange:

“It is with sincere regret that I have heard of the death of Major Higgins. I know what a loss he will be to you, and I should like to put on record my great appreciation of the valuable service he rendered while raising the City of Liverpool Battalion. I saw my brother, who commands a Brigade in France, and he feels his death most deeply. His loss is irreparable.”

The Secretary of the Association received from Brigadier-General F. C. Stanley (Commanding 89th Infantry Brigade) and Lord Derby's brother, a very appreciative letter speaking in highest terms of Major Higgins:

“... His death has been a great loss to his Brigade, and we all of us feel it most keenly. He was a splendid man, a most devoted friend of the City Battalions, and beloved by all. He was one of the prime movers in forming the City Battalions, and his energy and keenness were an example to all. The 17th Battalion K.L.R. have lost one of their finest officers, and I have lost one of my best friends.”

A few lines from a letter written by a Private in ‘A’ Company 17th K.L.R. shows how Major Higgins was regarded by his men:

“Our company made an attack on a wood which had been taken and lost twice before. Well, we climbed out of the trenches, and were met by heavy shell fire. How we got through was marvellous. The boys were splendid, they just walked on as if nothing was happening, with Major Higgins leading the way. We eventually reached the wood, and were met here by machine-guns and snipers perched up in the trees. It was here that Major Higgins was killed, leading his company like the brave man he was.”

Reports of the death of Major Higgins were recorded in the local press:

We published on Saturday the intelligence that Major Higgins of the Liverpool Regiment T.F was reported missing and we now regret to have to report his death in action on the 11th inst. George Frederick Higgins, Secretary of the Liverpool Cotton Association, son of F.C. Higgins, cotton broker, born January 29th 1880. Educated at Warwick School, member of school Cadet Corps, served in the ranks of the old 2nd V.B. K.L.R., was with the Sea Insurance Company for 8 years until 1904 when he was appointed assistant secretary to the Liverpool Cotton Association, and in 1909 succeeded Mr Peter Brown as secretary. On the formation of the "Pals" he obtained permission from the directors to join on September 1st 1914. He was gazetted Captain and appointed officer commanding No. 1  Company of the Battalion (about 300 strong, being largely made up of men from the Cotton Market.) Was made Major dated from August 4th 1915. The following was posted on the cotton exchange today:-

The Directors of Liverpool Cotton Association wish to place on record the great sorrow at the loss which the association has sustained by the death of major George F. Higgins. During the years he held the position as Secretary of the Association, his work on behalf of the members was untiring, his kindly manner and cheerful disposition enduring him to all with whom he came in contact. Major Higgins joined His Majesty's Forces in August 1914, and since that time devoted his energies to the service of his King and country. He fell in action on July 11th, leading and attack at the head of his men. The flag is flying half mast over the Cotton Exchange as a mark of respect to the late secretary. 

Soldiers Effects to mother Charlotte, no Pension record found.

Probate was granted on 07th September 1916 to mother Charlotte. Effects £900 5s 7d.

George Frederick Higgins is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 51 Left

Liverpool Cotton Association

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake.

Birkenhead Park Rugby Club 

He is also commemorated on a private grave memorial in Flaybrick Cemetery, Birkenhead. 

His mother died in the March quarter of 1931, aged 83.

His father died in the June quarter of 1936, aged 86.

His military paraphernalia went to auction in 2004:  1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals contained in a fine quality contemporary mahogany glazed display frame, with ivorine label, inscribed “Major George F. Higgins, 17th Battn., King's Liverpool Regt., fell in the Battle of the Somme, July 10th 1916”, together with memorial plaque mounted in an attractive oak surround, nearly extremely fine condition, £600- £800. 

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