PRIVATE THOMAS HIGGINS, 1ST FOOT (THE ROYAL SCOTS) (THE POST 1880 THE ROYAL SCOTS REGIMENT), LATER 68TH DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY. Crimea Medal 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol

PRIVATE THOMAS HIGGINS, 1ST FOOT (THE ROYAL SCOTS) (THE POST 1880 THE ROYAL SCOTS REGIMENT), LATER 68TH DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY. Crimea Medal 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol (regimentally impressed: 3203 THOMAS. HIGGINS. 1st BATTn 1st (….)). Obverse contact marked and numerous contact marks to rim at 3 o’clock, partially obscuring naming details (as indicated), probably from contact with other medals, otherwise Good Very Fine.

Medal accompanied by 5 pages of copied discharge papers, copied medal rolls confirming medal and clasps for service with the 1st Foot in the Crimea and extract from the 1881 census. Medal also accompanied by copied extract from New Zealand Medal roll confirming that Thomas Higgins was also entitled to the New Zealand Medal.

Thomas Higgins was born in the parish of Youghal, Co. Cork. He enlisted into the 1st Foot at Newport, Monmouthshire, on 15/9/1853, and allocated the regimental number 3203. At the time of enlistment he was 19 years old and gave his trade as labourer. Higgins transferred to the 68th Foot on 31/10/1863, when he was allocated a new regimental number, 746 Private. Higgins never rose above the rank of Private whilst serving with the 1st Foot or the 68th Foot and was discharged on 25/11/1874. At the time of discharge he gave his intended place of residence as Manchester. Higgins was admitted as a Chelsea Pensioner (Outpensioner) on 19/1/1875. Higgins is recorded in the 1881 census as a 47 year old labourer living in Gorton, Manchester, with his 40 year old wife, Mary and three children.