-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the sinking

We will remember them
Chainbar divider

In Remembrance of
William Higginson

Photo of
Date of birth: 8th October 1902
Place of birth: Southampton, Hampshire, England
Parents: Edward and Annie Higginson
Previous occupation: Labourer
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Stoker 1st Class
Service Number: P/K 59301
Joined Hood: 8th April 1941 (Stoker 1st Class)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Stoker 1st Class)
Click here to print memorial poster




Biographical Information:

William was born on 8th October 1903 (note- his official service record has this as 1902) in Southampton, Hampshire to Edward and Anne Higginson.

He is known to have served aboard H.M.S. Argus sometime prior to joining Hood. William was 27 years old at the time of his loss.





History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
27th November 192014th March 1921Victory IIStoker 2nd ClassADM188/979
15th March 192131st July 1921ChampionStoker 2nd ClassADM188/979
1st August 192126th August 1921ChampionStoker 1st ClassADM188/979
27th August 192114th September 1921Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM188/979
15th September 192128th July 1922RenownStoker 1st ClassADM188/979
29th July 19225th February 1923Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM188/979
6th February 192323rd August 1923Columbine (Woolston)Stoker 1st ClassADM188/979
24th August 19237th October 1923Victory II (Woolston)Stoker 1st ClassADM188/979
8th October 192331st March 1924Diligence (Woolston)Stoker 1st ClassADM188/979
1st April 192418th May 1924Sandhurst (Woolston)Stoker 1st ClassADM188/979
19th May 192418th February 1925Egmont (Woolston and Wolsey)Stoker 1st ClassADM188/979
19th February 192519th February 1925Sandhurst (Wanderer)Stoker 1st ClassADM188/979
20th February 192531st March 1925Sandhurst (Woolston)Stoker 1st ClassADM188/979
1st April 192519th April 1925SandhurstStoker 1st ClassADM188/979
20th April 192519th February 1926Egmont (Woolston and Wivern)Stoker 1st ClassADM188/979
20th February 192630th June 1926Iron DukeStoker 1st ClassADM188/979
1st July 19261st September 1926Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM188/979
2nd September 192613th May 1929RenownStoker 1st ClassADM188/979
14th May 192922nd September 1929Victory II - VIStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
23rd September 19295th August 1931Cormorant (Tourmaline)Stoker 1st ClassADM363/135
6th August 19319th September 1931Victory II - IV (Tourmaline)Stoker 1st ClassADM363/135
10th September 19319th November 1931Victory II - VIStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
10th November 19316th January 1933Vernon (Stronghold)Stoker 1st ClassADM363/135
7th January 193315th December 1933WarspiteStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
16th December 19337th March 1934Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
8th March 193430th April 1934CalcuttaStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
1st May 193422nd May 1936Bee (Ladybird)Stoker 1st ClassADM363/135
23rd May 19367th June 1936DauntlessStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
8th June 19362nd March 1938Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
3rd March 193829th July 1938Drake IIStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
30th July 19382nd July 1939ArgusStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
3rd July 193928th July 1939Effingham (Argus)Stoker 1st ClassADM363/135
29th July 19396th October 1939Victory IV (Argus)Stoker 1st ClassADM363/135
7th October 193920th March 1941ArgusStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
21st March 19417th April 1941Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM363/135
8th April 194124th May 1941HoodStoker 1st ClassADM363/135

Additional Photographs
None at this time.




Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial










Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial



The part of the memorial in which the Hood casualty names can be found.
(Panels 45 to 61)





William's name is in Column 1 of Panel 55.





Detail of William's name.





Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
Lynda Nixon (information, July 2019)
Susan Matthews (information, Oct 2007)