Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes

Eight: Captain and Group Adjutant T. J. Higgins, City of London Rifle Volunteers, late Coldstream Guards, with whom he was mentioned in despatches for Gallipoli and awarded the Serbian Cross of Karageorge

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (7606 Corl., Cldstm. Gds.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (7606 Serjt., Coldstream Guards); 1914-15 Star (7606 C.S. Mjr., C. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (7606 W.O. Cl. 2, C. Gds.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (7606 C. Sjt., Cldstm. Gds.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (C.S. Mjr., C. Gds.); Serbian Cross of Karageorge, 2nd class, with swords, dated 1914-16, mounted court-style as worn, the first two with edge bruising, contact wear and polished, good fine, the remainder very fine or better, the last extremely rare (8) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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See Colour Plate VIII

Thomas Joseph Higgins was born in Sittingbourne, Kent and enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in January 1889, aged 18 years.

Having been advanced to Corporal in April 1899, he served out in South Africa between October of the same year and October 1902, winning the Queen’s Medal with six clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps, in addition to gaining further promotion to Sergeant in September 1901. He subsequently gained appointment as Colour-Sergeant in August 1905 and received his L.S. & G.C. Medal in Army Order 270 of 1909, and in the following year was attached to the 10th (Hackney) Battalion, London Regiment as a Permanent Staff Instructor.

During the Great War Higgins served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force between July and December 1915, and was mentioned in despatches by General Sir Charles Munro for his services in Gallipoli (London Gazette 13 July 1916), in addition to being awarded the 2nd Class Serbian Cross of Karageorge (London Gazette 15 January 1917), both unique distinctions to the Coldstream Guards.

Commissioned in January 1916 on his return to the U.K., Higgins latterly served as a Captain and Group Adjutant in the City of London Rifle Volunteers; see Ian McInnes’ The Annuity M.S.M. 1847-1953 for further details and photograph.