Alfred Higgins
Alfred Henry Higgins was born in Grantham c1893. His parents were Alfred and Mary Ann (nee Lightfoot). Around 2 years later they moved to Gonerby; then to Humby and (by 1901) Swinstead, near Bourne.
In 1911 they were in Hawkswoth, Notts. There were 5 boys:
- Arthur (20) waggoner on farm (not in Hawksworth)
- Alfred (17) waggoner on farm
- Fred (16) farm labourer
- Cecil (15)
- Ernest (13)
In 1914 Alfred was staying with his married sister Lucy Featherstone at Brooksby Lodge, Hoby when he joined the Sherwood Foresters in Sutton on Ashfield. He served 3½ years in France before being killed by a shell during the German spring offensive on 8 Jun 1918, aged 24. He was still a private and serving with 10th Sherwood Foresters. He is buried in Auchonvillers Military Cemetery, Somme. His name is on the Barkston War Memorial.
All his brothers were in the Army. When Alfred died one of them had been discharged and the 3 others were still in France.