From “The Scone Advocate” (online)http://www.sconeadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/higgins-grave-identified/1880085.aspxHiggins’ grave identifiedBy Caitlin Andrews
08 Jul, 2010
After years of silence with no real confirmation of where her brother was, Scone’s Gladys Easton has now taken peace in knowing where he is.
Mrs Easton, who now resides in Strathearn, was recently identified as the only living sibling in Australia of the Australian diggers who were killed in action at Fromelles.
William Bruce Higgins was 196 Driver in the 30th Battalion of Gloucester and the eldest of 11 children born in the Higgins family.
Mrs Easton and her twin sister were the youngest in the family and William Bruce was the eldest leaving his occupation as a grazier on the family farm on November 9, 1915 aboard the HMAT Beltana (A72).
Private Higgins was reported missing in action at the Battle of Fromelles on July 20, 1916 and from then on his family could only guess.
Later that year, communication was received reporting Pte Higgins had been killed in action.
Pte Higgins’ grave was one of 75 graves to be identified of late and
it is here where his nieces Janice Simmons and Christine Williams and Janice’s daughter Kylie Dodd will visit on July 19.
Janice, Christine and Kylie are joining 18 other extended family members at the official memorial service to mark the anniversary of the battle on July 19.
The women will be spending time in Scotland beforehand searching for their uncle’s and their own family history.
It wasn’t until about six months ago that Pte Higgins’ grave was identified and Janice read in The Herald that eight Hunter based men had been found.
She then organised for some of Mrs Easton’s DNA to be sent over to see if there was a match.
Janice said Christine, their two brothers Ian and Bruce, and herself had grown up with their mother telling them their uncle was killed at war, but that was it.
“We never expected he would be found,” Janice said.
“This is how we realised he was one of the Fromelles diggers,” she said.
As well as the main ceremony the family will also be having a short private ceremony at the grave site of their relative.
“Some relatives are taking some soil from the old property at Gloucester to put into the grave,” Janice said.
Although excited, Christine said
she believes it will be an emotional experience.
The trip will also spur a brush with royalty for Aberdeen based Janice as she has been nominated as one of two family members to attend a reception hosted by the Duke of Kent, head of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Along with her cousin, who was named after Pte Higgins, Janice the eldest child of the only living sibling, will be greeted by Prince Charles and Lady Camilla at the function.
Janice and Christine both said they were looking forward to their trip and the memorial ceremony.
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