Difference between revisions of "Higton Kenneth Lieutenant 256831"
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|Army number=256831 | |Army number=256831 | ||
|Rank=Lieutenant. | |Rank=Lieutenant. | ||
| − | |Decorations= | + | |Decorations=Service Awards. Military Cross - see text of citation below. |
| − | |Date of birth= | + | |Date of birth=Born 2/4/1919 in Sheffield. |
| − | |Age= | + | |Age=84 at the time of his death. |
| − | |Unit=Commissioned in the Royal Engineers. Posted to the 756th Field Company. | + | |Unit=Served in the ranks - reaching the rank of Sergeant. Posted to OCTU. Commissioned in the Royal Engineers (Short Service Commission) - Gazetted 27/4/1943. Posted to the 756th Field Company. Served Normandy. Transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Regular Army - retired on retirement pay 2/4/1974 (Gazetted 1/3/1974). |
|Company/Battery=756th Field Company. | |Company/Battery=756th Field Company. | ||
|Platoon or other sub-unit=Not yet known. | |Platoon or other sub-unit=Not yet known. | ||
| − | |Task or role=Probably Platoon Commander. | + | |Task or role=Probably Platoon Commander, then Company Commander. |
|Joined Brigade=On the Company being attached to the Brigade. | |Joined Brigade=On the Company being attached to the Brigade. | ||
| − | |Promotions= | + | |Promotions=War Substantive Lieutenant. Captain. Major. From Short Service Commission - 2nd Lieutenant 12/1/1952 with seniority from 8/5/1942, to be Lieutenant 12/1/1952 with seniority from 8/11/1943. Captain from 23/12/1946 (Gazetted 25/1/1952). Captain 13/1/1950 (Gazetted 3/2/1950). |
|Wounded=Not known. | |Wounded=Not known. | ||
|Prisoner of War=Not as far as is known. | |Prisoner of War=Not as far as is known. | ||
| − | |Died/Killed in action= | + | |Died/Killed in action=Died 8/12/2003 - death registered in Sheffield. Other sources show registration in December 2009 but this may have been a typographical error. |
| − | |Home address= | + | |Home address=Father Arthur Higton - worked as a joiner. Mother Ada Elston. No indication of a marriage traced. in 1971 he lived at Long Eaton in Derbyshire. His last place of residence was Dronfield. |
}} | }} | ||
| − | [[File | + | [[File:619323441_10163120988749877_9080888347793741944_n_(1).jpg|800px|thumb|centre|Shoulder insignia from Lt Higton's Battledress]] |
| + | |||
| + | '''The Citation for Lt Higton's Military Cross - downloaded from the relevant file at The National Archives is as follows:- | ||
| + | ''' | ||
| + | On the night of 28/29 Oct 1944 as part of the plan for the assault by elements of 49 (WR) Inf Div on the town of ROOSENDAAL, 756 Fd Coy RE was ordered to construct a road and table for the passage of A Tk guns, Carriers and Churchill tanks across the formidable A Tk ditch which formed part of the defence of the town. The necessary work was commenced at 2200 hrs on the night of 28 Oct by Lt Kenneth HIGTON and a small party of sappers using an armoured bulldozer. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In order to construct the crossing it was necessary for a complete house to be moved and for earth from the banks of the anti tank ditch to be pushed into the ditch until it was full and a roadway had been formed. The noise made by the bulldozer revealed to the enemy that some operation was being carried out by our forces at this point and as a result the enemy brought down considerable DF mortar fire from nearby posns on the area. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Appreciating the importance to the Divisional plan of the early completion of the task, Lt HIGTON calmly carried on notwithstanding the enemy fire. Throughout the operation he stood with no apparent fear amid exploding bombs directing the vital work of the bulldozer and supervising his men in laying the surface of the road. Due largely to his example and disregard for his own safety the crossing was completed by 0300 hrs on the morning of 29 Oct and the tanks and A Tk guns and Carriers were able to cross the ditch. A few hours later, due in considerable measure to his courage and leadership, the town of ROOSENDAAL was in our hands. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The recommendation for an immediate MC was put forward by the Commander Royal Engineers of the 49th Division, endorsed by the Divisional Commander, the Commander of 1 Corps, the Commander of the 1st Canadian Army (under which the Division was serving at that time) and finally approved by Field Marshal Montgomery. Their signatures all appear on the original Citation document. The final approval was dated 22/3/1945. The document is filed at The National Archives under reference WO 373/52. | ||
Latest revision as of 16:11, 14 February 2026
Personnel Entry
Name Higton Kenneth
Army number 256831
Rank Lieutenant.
Decorations Service Awards. Military Cross - see text of citation below.
Date of birth Born 2/4/1919 in Sheffield.
Age 84 at the time of his death.
Unit Served in the ranks - reaching the rank of Sergeant. Posted to OCTU. Commissioned in the Royal Engineers (Short Service Commission) - Gazetted 27/4/1943. Posted to the 756th Field Company. Served Normandy. Transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Regular Army - retired on retirement pay 2/4/1974 (Gazetted 1/3/1974).
Company/Battery 756th Field Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit Not yet known.
Task or role Probably Platoon Commander, then Company Commander.
Joined Brigade On the Company being attached to the Brigade.
Promotions War Substantive Lieutenant. Captain. Major. From Short Service Commission - 2nd Lieutenant 12/1/1952 with seniority from 8/5/1942, to be Lieutenant 12/1/1952 with seniority from 8/11/1943. Captain from 23/12/1946 (Gazetted 25/1/1952). Captain 13/1/1950 (Gazetted 3/2/1950).
Wounded Not known.
Prisoner of War Not as far as is known.
Died/Killed in action Died 8/12/2003 - death registered in Sheffield. Other sources show registration in December 2009 but this may have been a typographical error.
Home address Father Arthur Higton - worked as a joiner. Mother Ada Elston. No indication of a marriage traced. in 1971 he lived at Long Eaton in Derbyshire. His last place of residence was Dronfield.
Source table
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The Citation for Lt Higton's Military Cross - downloaded from the relevant file at The National Archives is as follows:- On the night of 28/29 Oct 1944 as part of the plan for the assault by elements of 49 (WR) Inf Div on the town of ROOSENDAAL, 756 Fd Coy RE was ordered to construct a road and table for the passage of A Tk guns, Carriers and Churchill tanks across the formidable A Tk ditch which formed part of the defence of the town. The necessary work was commenced at 2200 hrs on the night of 28 Oct by Lt Kenneth HIGTON and a small party of sappers using an armoured bulldozer.
In order to construct the crossing it was necessary for a complete house to be moved and for earth from the banks of the anti tank ditch to be pushed into the ditch until it was full and a roadway had been formed. The noise made by the bulldozer revealed to the enemy that some operation was being carried out by our forces at this point and as a result the enemy brought down considerable DF mortar fire from nearby posns on the area.
Appreciating the importance to the Divisional plan of the early completion of the task, Lt HIGTON calmly carried on notwithstanding the enemy fire. Throughout the operation he stood with no apparent fear amid exploding bombs directing the vital work of the bulldozer and supervising his men in laying the surface of the road. Due largely to his example and disregard for his own safety the crossing was completed by 0300 hrs on the morning of 29 Oct and the tanks and A Tk guns and Carriers were able to cross the ditch. A few hours later, due in considerable measure to his courage and leadership, the town of ROOSENDAAL was in our hands.
The recommendation for an immediate MC was put forward by the Commander Royal Engineers of the 49th Division, endorsed by the Divisional Commander, the Commander of 1 Corps, the Commander of the 1st Canadian Army (under which the Division was serving at that time) and finally approved by Field Marshal Montgomery. Their signatures all appear on the original Citation document. The final approval was dated 22/3/1945. The document is filed at The National Archives under reference WO 373/52.
