25th County of London Cyclist Battalion
The London Regiment


 William Henry HIGGINS


Pte. W.H. Higgins of No. 2 Platoon who died of influenza on October 26th, joined the Third Line at Feltham in 1915, serving with them there, and afterwards at Ashford and Richmond Park. He was one of the draft which joined the First Battalion at Hebbel in September 1916.
From the beginning "Bunkey", as he was affectionately called, endeared himself to his comrades by his never failing good humour and happy little ways, and we fear that it will be many days ere it is fully realised that so a joyous spirit is no more.
An enthusiastic sportsman, he was valued by his platoon in several sports, notably hockey, and his chums convey to his relatives at Home their most sincere expressions of sympathy in a loss which, in the light of recent events, is doubly sad and regrettable.
 
[The Londoner magazine, Feb 1919 - V.III, No.2 pg.52.]



Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19

Higgins, William Henry, resident Clapham, enlisted Fulham, 741277, Cyc., died in India, 26 Oct 1918.

['Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19', Vol. 10, Part 76, Page 206, 25th (County of London) Battalion (Cyclists), pub. 1921 by His Majesty's Stationary Office]
    

In Memory of

Private William Henry HIGGINS
 
741277, 1st/25th Bn., London Regiment (Cyclists)

who died age 22 on 26 October 1918 in India
 
Son of Henry and Florence Higgins, of 40, Jeffreys Rd., Clapham, London.

Remembered with honour  KIRKEE 1914-1918 MEMORIAL. Face 10.

Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Kirkee Memorial commemorates more than 1,800 servicemen who died in India during the First World War, who are buried in civil and cantonment cemeteries in India and Pakistan* where their graves can no longer be properly maintained. This total includes the names of 629 servicemen whose remains were brought from Bombay (Sewri) Cemetery for re-interment here in 1960.

Kirkee, also known as Khadki, is a Military Cantonment adjoining the large university town of Poona on the Plateau above Bombay . It can be reached by train from Bombay to Poona or by long distance taxi service from Dada Taxi Stand, Bombay . There are direct flights from Bombay , Madras and Delhi but these tend to be irregular. Taxis and Motor Rickshaws are available from Poona Railway Station. To reach Kirkee War Cemetery , in which the memorial stands, one must ask for Mula Road along which the cemetery is located. One way is to cross the Sangam Bridge and follow the road which has the River Mula on its right. The CWGC road direction board is on a crossroads with the Bombay Poona Road . The cemetery is situated on the right hand side and backs onto the river. From the railway station follow the way via Juna Bazar, Sangam Bridge , past the Engineering college, over Wakdewadi Bridge , past Bajaj Kamal Nayan Udyan and onto Bhayawadi and Mula Roads. From the airport, one reaches Ahmadnagar Road which joins onto Nagar Road followed by Deccan College Road ; over the Holkar Bridge and, keeping left at the junction with Elphinson road, one enters Mula Road . The cemetery is a short distance away on the left hand side of the road. The Commonwealth War Graves road direction sign is situated at the junctions of  Elphinson Road and Mula Road , but it should be noted that this is often hidden from view by Market Stalls.

[Courtesy of Commonwealth War Graves Commission]


 

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