Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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7515   Rifleman William John Higgins
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 12/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 10/03/1896
Died: 12/04/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 20
Summary      
William Higgins was the only son of William and Elizabeth Higgins. William John Higgins was born on 10th March 1896 in Magherafelt. By 1911 William had left school and was working as a telegraph messenger. He worked for the Midland Railway Company. The family lived in King Street. William’s mother died on 4th December 1914.illiam joined the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles in the early summer of 1915. William’s sister died on 3rd October 1915, aged just 16. Private William Higgins was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on 12th April 1916. He was 20 years old.
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 William John Higgins
Cemetery Details
Cemetery: Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery
  Warloy-Baillon, Somme
Grave Ref: Grave C-7
CWGC Casualty 73915
Summary      
Warloy-Baillon is a village about 21 kilometres north-east of Amiens along the D919 to Arras. The Communal Cemetery is on the east side of the village and the extension is on the eastern side of the cemetery.
Local Memorial Details

No Memorial Name Townland
1 Magherafelt Church of Ireland - WW1 Roll of Honour Magherafelt
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Higgins family 1901 census lists William J as age 5 living with the family at house 25 in King Street, Magherafelt, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists Higgins family 1911 census lists William John as age 15 living with the family at house 16 in King Street, Magherafelt, Londonderry
3 National Archives of Ireland Last Will and Testament of Rifleman William John Higgins
4 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023