Lance Corporal John William Steers HIGGS
4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 4311 & 10269
King’s Royal Rifle Corps
John was born in Spratton on 17 March 1900, the son of John Higgs, a shoemaker, and his wife Elizabeth (née Steers) who came from Lowick. When John was still a baby, the family moved to Lowick to live with his grandparents and later they moved to Northampton where his father found employment in the boot and shoe trade. So they were not in Spratton in 1911, nor in 1921, and his name is not on the Roll of Honour in the Church.
John was clearly desperate to enlist. He first volunteered to join the 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment on 31 May 1915, when he was 15. He gave a Northampton address. He was discharged the next day, “having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment”. He volunteered again the next month in June 1915, this time giving his address as Spratton and his date of birth as 17 March 1897, thereby adding three years to his age. He was discharged again on 16 January 1916. His service record states: “He did not serve abroad with the Expeditionary Force. He was discharged at Strood, Kent, having made a false declaration as to his age”.
He finally managed to join the King’s Royal Rifle Corps as soon as he reached the age of 18 in March 1918. He gave his address as 25 Herbert Street, Northampton. During his training he was stationed in Colchester and then employed on garrison duties, before becoming a physical training instructor. He did not serve overseas and was demobilised in October 1919.
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King’s Royal Rifle Corps badge
King’s Royal Rifle Corps badge
EXPLORE SECTIONS
MEN WHO SERVED
- Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert)
- Corporal Frank AUSTIN
- Lance Corporal James William AUSTIN
- Private John Samuel AUSTIN
- Sergeant William Henry AUSTIN
- Sergeant Bertie Henry BALDERSON
- Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM
- Lance Corporal Robert Samuel BALDERSON
- Private George William BUCKBY (known as William)
- Private Henry Andrew BUCKBY
- Richard Henry Horne BUCKBY
- Transport Sergeant Thomas BUCKBY MM
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant William Gander BUCKBY
- William Archibald COPSON (known as Archibald)
- Sapper Ebenezer COPSON
- Private Ernest Edward COPSON
- Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry)
- Private James COPSON
- Private John William COPSON
- Private Joseph COPSON
- Private Arthur Sidney GOODEN (known as Sidney)
- Private Hugh Henry GOODEN
- Sergeant Joseph Eric GOODEN (known as Eric)
- Private Arthur Thomas HAYTER
- Driver Frank Leonard HAYTER
- Private Harold Herbert HAYTER
- Lance Corporal John Charles HAYTER DCM (known as Jack)
- Private Walter Ernest HAYTER
- Ordinary Seaman Arthur Charles HORNE
- Private John William HORNE (known as William)
- Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE
- Private Thomas HORNE
- Driver John Henry LEESON
- Corporal Joseph Henry LEESON (known as Harry)
- Thomas Baden Powell LEESON (known as ‘Bard’)
- Private Albert MANNING
- Corporal Amos MANNING
- Private Arthur Cecil MANNING
- Private George MANNING
- Sergeant George William MANNING
- Sapper Henry Stanley MANNING (known as Stanley)
- Private John Thomas MANNING
- Private John William MANNING
- Air Mechanic Nathaniel MANNING
- Driver/Saddler Samuel MANNING
- Gunner George Albert MARTIN
- Private Joseph MARTIN
- Private Thomas Henry MARTIN (known as Harry)
- Private Thomas Walter MARTIN (known as Walter)
- Pioneer Walter Ernest MARTIN
- Sergeant William Higgs MARTIN, DCM
- Private Arthur Walter PAGE
- Private Francis Samuel PAGE (known as Sam)
- Private Frank PAGE
- Private Stephen PAGE
- Lieutenant George REEVE MC MM
- Private Richard Henry REEVE (known as Harry)
- Private Samuel REEVE
- Private Sidney Philip REEVE
- Private Frederick Thomas RICHARDSON
- Private John William RICHARDSON
- Private Percy John Partridge RICHARDSON
- Private Abraham Bert SMITH
- Private Alfred SMITH
- Private Frank SMITH 46648
- Private John Samuel SMITH
- Private John William SMITH (6942)
- Private John William (William John) SMITH (8964)
- Private Charles Walter WADHAMS
- Private John Edward WADHAMS
- Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS
- Private William WADHAMS