Edward Bernard Higgins
Unit number 5115
THE name "Ned Higgins" is well known today as a lane in Margaret River town.
But the story of Edward "Ned" Higgins is of a young man marked by a terrible experience of war and its life-long impact.
Born at Broadwater, Busselton, in March 1897 to Thomas Higgins and Elizabeth Dawson, Ned grew up living the hard working life of a farmer's son.
In 1909 Ned attended Trinders' School, Marg aret River, while his parents were working hard in the livery business.
At the outbreak of war, Ned was almost 19 years old.
Ned enlisted at Blackboy Hill Army Camp on January 31, 1916. On March 31 he and his compatriots were marched onto the dock at Fremantle and up the gangplanks of HMAT A9 Shropshire. Ned was a Private heading off to Alexandria to join the 11th Battalion, D Comp any, 16th Reinforcements.
He celebrated his 19th birthday in March aboard Shropshire. But an outbreak of mumps was probably not the birthday present Ned had been looking for. Upon arrival in Etaples, France, in July 1916, he was sent to the 24th General Hospital and was out of action for three weeks.
From hospital he was sent straight into the Battle of the Somme.
Sometime over the next four weeks, Ned was chosen to be a "guinea pig". The army heads had realised that gas warfare was on its way and were preparing ways to protect their troops.
Ned and others were sent down some stairs and into a room to don a gas mask and walk out into a gas-filled trench. Sadly, Ned's mask was faulty. This exposure had Ned in hospital for a month.
In late March 1917 Ned was gassed in action at the Battle of the Somme and he was hospitalised in Rouen. Another stay of three weeks and again he was sent back to his Battalion. But on April 11 Ned was transferred to the Aust ralian General Hospi tal in Rouen. For being late to parade a month later, Ned was confined to barracks for eight days.
Leave at last for the weary Digger in October 1917, but four weeks later Ned was back in hospital diagnosed with diphtheria. Then in March 1918, another month of being ill this time diagnosed with bronchitis followed by a return to his unit.
But change was afoot and Ned was detached to join the Surgical Team, 2nd Army for three months, rejoining the 11th on September 14.
In January 1919, with the war over, Ned was caring for the wounded that had not yet been mobilised back to England. He was shipped to Sutton Veny on the south coast of England and in March was given the rank of temporary corporal.
Finally his orders came to return to Australia and he returned on board the Karmala, arriving July 2, 1919. He received his honourable discharge, medically unfit, from the army on October 1, 1919.
As his pay had come through before his arrival home, Ned's father had purchased land in what is now the town site of Margaret River for Ned. In February 1921, the RSL gave him a stipend of a horse breakers saddle and bridle.
Ned started work in Busselton with a partner working as professional horse breakers. But he returned to Margaret River when his partner ran off with the money and the small house that Ned was living in burnt down.
On December 3, 1926 Ned married Elva Hender son of Fremantle.
Ned passed away at age 63 on March 18, 1960. He is buried at Karrakatta Cemtery in Perth and Elva lies nearby.
These profiles will form part of an exhibition at the Bramley School, Old Margaret River Settlement, for the commemoration of the ANZAC centenary. The honour roll, WWI medals and memorabilia are available for viewing to the public at the old school every Thursday from 1.30 to 4 pm and Saturdays from 10 to 2. If you have any pictures, memorabilia or information regarding any of the ANZACs on the local honour roll, please contact Pauline Graves at the Margaret River and Districts Historical Society by email on pushing_60@hotmail.com.
