HIGGS, Frederick Thomas
| Service Number: | 3670 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 September 1915, Enlisted at Claremont, Tasmania |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Abbotsford, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Vere Street School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Printer |
| Died: | Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, August 1973, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne C.E. Bolingbroke Lawn, Row AO, Grave 41. Interred on 30 August 1973 and held in perpetuity for all time |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3670, 26th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Claremont, Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 3670, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3670, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Melbourne | |
| 20 Mar 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, In France | |
| 18 Apr 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3670, 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, Discharged at the 6th Military District |
Help us honour Frederick Thomas Higgs's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Thomas Higgs and Frances Ashberry Higgs nee Leitch of Charles Street, Abbotsford, Victoria
On 3rd November 1918 he accidentally wounded his left hand and was invalided to England aboard HS St. George
Commenced return to Australia on 3 September 1919 aboard HT Euripides desembarking on 20 October 1919 at Melbourne for onward travel to Tasmania
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Bronwyn Higgs
Born in 1890, Frederick Thomas Higgs, was the son of Thomas Higgs, a printer and his wife Frances Ashberry (nee Leitch), both of Collingwood, Victoria.
In 1906, he commenced an apprenticeship as a printer and lithographer with Edgar Newland of Swanston Street, Melbourne and after completing his period of indentures in 1910, he was admitted to the Melbourne Typographical Society. He was employed at the Advocate Printing Office in Lonsdale Street.
In 1913, at the age of 23 years, Fred left home for the first time and moved to Launceston, Tasmania where he was employed at the Daily Telegraph Office. He was residing in Launceston when he enlisted in the AIF.
On 1 September, 1915, Fred wrote to his father to inform him of his decision to enlist in the Australian Infantry Forces (AIF). His basic training was conducted in Tasmania and from there he travelled to Brisbane where, in January 1916, he embarked on board the ship, Kyarra bound for Europe. He served with the 26th Battalion, 8th reinforcement, 2nd machine gun division and saw active service in France, Germany and Belgium.
He was wounded a number of times, In December 1916, he was reported wounded but his injuries were not life threatening and after recovering, he continued to serve. During one of these periods, he was a patient at the Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartmoor, Kent (See photographs)
Following armistice, Fred stayed on in Europe to assist with the clean up program and for a short time served with the Armed Forces printing department which published magazines such as the Australian Soldier.
After the war, Fred initially returned to Lauceston for some six years. Then, in 1925, he finally returned to Melbourne and took up residence in his family home in Charles Street, Abbotsford. He found secure, long term employment with the Argus newspaper in Collins Street as a printer and machinist. At that time, the Argus was Melbourne's leading daily newspaper.
Fred never married and had no issue. He died at Heidelberg in 1973, aged 83 years.
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