Anthony James HIGGINS

Regimental number4176
Place of birthCondobolin, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationMail driver
AddressAvoca, Orange Street, Condobolin, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 3.75"
Weight113 lbs
Next of kinFather, Mr D Higgins, Avoca, Orange Street, Condobolin, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date20 August 1915
Place of enlistmentLithgow, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 13th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A6 Aeneas on 20 December 1915
Regimental number from Nominal Roll4176A
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19-20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records19
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 10), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
159
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Dennis and Therza HIGGINS, Orange Street, Condobolin, New South Wales
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Allotted to and proceeded to 54th Bn from 1st Training Bn, Zeitoun, 16 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19/20 July 1916'.

Note, Red Cross File No 1330308: 'NO trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10-10-19.'

Statement, 4463 Pte A.J. COUSINS, C Company, 54th Bn (patient, No 4 General Hospital, Randwick), 14 July 1917: 'I "went over" the trenches on the 19th July, 1916 at Fleurbaix near Armentieres. Higgins, generally called "Tony", went over at the same time, just alongside of me. The charge was about 5.30 p.m. I saw Higgins fall. I afterwards reached the 3rd line and during the night, I returned to look for Higgins, thinking he was only wounded, but found him dead. The wound was in the head.'

Second statement, 4463 Pte A.I. COUSINS, C Company, 54th Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 6 March 1917: 'I saw him killed instantly by a bullet, in a charge at Fleurbaix 20/July 16. I was hit just after and don't know if he was buried.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, HIGGINS Anthony James
Red Cross file 1330308