Henry James HIGGINS

Henry James was born 20 Jan 1884, youngest son of Alfred and Elizabeth Lavina HIGGINS, of 30a Carters yard, George Street, St Clements Oxford. He was known as Harry to the family.

Harry left School at 13 and worked as a gardener at Trinity College Oxford. He left there about 1903 to go to work for Augustus George Vernon HARCOURT (a chemist at Christ Church, Oxford) who lived at St Clare, a large house near Ryde, Isle of Wight. In 1906 he moved to Caterham, Surry to work there.

While on the Isle of Wight he met his future wife Ethel who worked as a cook in a large house for Mrs CARTER of Wooton House, St Johns Park, Ryde. She travelled abroad with them before her marriage.

Harry married Ethel M. F. HERBERT on 26 Dec 1913 at St John’s Church, Oakfield, Isle of Wight. They lived in Croydon Road, Caterham Valley, Surrey, taking Ethel’s nephew Leslie with them. Harry and Ethel had two children, Marguerite Joan HIGGINS born 10 Nov 1920 and Ethel Eileen HIGGINS born 6 Aug 1922.

Harry was in the army in the First World War, a private in Pioneer Core, and then the Queen’s Royal Regiment. He received medals for his service. During the Second World War, Harry served in the Home Guard and was awarded the 1939-1945 Defence Medal.

After the war Harry went back to working as a gardener. He died 25 Sep 1959 at Redhill Hospital, Redhill, Surrey at the age of 74.

Henry James HIGGINS

henry in later life