2nd Lieutenant Stanley Higgins

• Age: 25
• From: Toxteth Liverpool
• Regiment: 2/7th Kings
• Died on Friday 27th September 1918
• Commemorated at: Queant Communal Cemetery British Extension
  Panel Ref: C.6

Stanley was born on 13th February 1893 at Toxteth Park, Liverpool the son of Ben Stanley Higgins and his wife Elizabeth Mary (nee White).

He was enrolled in St Saviour's school Faulkner Street, Liverpool in 1899. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 16 Cadogan Street, Toxteth Park. His father Ben Stanley is the head of the household, he is shown as a school teacher born in Poole, Dorset in 1858. His mother Elizabeth Mary is shown as having been born in Liverpool in 1868. Stanley is listed as 8 years of age and has three siblings: Arthur b. 1889, Dora b.1892 and May b. 1899.

The 1911 Census finds the family living at 13 Annesley Road, Poulton but Stanley is not in the household. His parents are still living in the household and are joined by Stanley's siblings Arthur, Dora, May, Kenneth b.1903, Leslie b.1905 and Alice Maud b.1909.   

Prior to enlistment he was  employed at Vernon & Sons flour mill, Seacombe.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22719.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He susbsequently earned a Commission and was serving with the 2/7th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment when he was killed on 27th September 1918, aged 25.

He now rests at Queant Road British Cemetery in France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"SAVIOUR IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING. MOTHER"  

Buissy was reached by the Third Army on 02 September 1918, after the storming of the Drocourt-Queant line, and it was evacuated by the Germans on the following day. Queant Cemetery was made by the 2nd and 57th Casualty Clearing Stations in October and November 1918. It then consisted of 71 graves (now Plot I, Rows A and B), but was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when 2200 graves were brought in from the battlefields of 1917-1918 between Arras and Bapaume. 

There are now 2,377 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 1,441 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 56 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 26 casualties buried in German cemeteries in the neighbourhood, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He left behind a widow Eleanor Higgins of 82 Church Street, Egremont.  

A newspaper report at the time of his death advises:

Seacombe Officer Killed

Mr and Mrs Stanley Higgins, of 27, Annesley Road, Somerville, have been notified of the sad news that their son, 2nd Lieut. Stanley Higgins, was killed in action on September 27th. He was 25 years of age, and joined the King’s Liverpool Regt. “Pals” as a drummer, and was drafted in France on November 8, 1915, where he served until last December, when he came home for his commission. He went to France again on the 16th of last month. He was educated at Wine Street School, Liverpool, and formerly employed at Messrs. Vernon and Sons flour mills, Seacombe. The Colonel writes:- “As soon as I saw him I knew he was the type of officer we wanted and proved his gallantry at once.” Another officer writes:- “He had only been with this company a few days, but I am sure had he been with us longer he would have proved very popular. He died as befits a British officer, gallantly leading his men. He laid down his life for those he loved dearly.” His brother, Arthur D. Higgins, is with the Army in Palestine.

Stanley is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Central Hall Methodist Mission, Liverpool

Vernons Flour Mill Birkenhead.

We currently have no further information on Stanley Higgins. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.