Description
1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medal, Bronze Memorial Plaque, 9281 Private Arthur Huggins, 2nd Bn Hampshire Regt, Killed in Action at Gallipoli, 6th May 1915, 1st Day 2nd Battle of Krithia.
Trio officially impressed: 9281 Pte A. Huggins. Hamps. R”
Memorial Plaque officially embossed: “ARTHUR HUGGINS”
Arthur Huggins, was born in Sutton or Guildford, Surrey, during 1895 and enlisted for service at Aldershot, where his family lived at the time.
The son of John Reynolds Huggins and Annie Clark nee Benwell of 9 Drury Lane, Aldershot.
He arrived for active service in Gallipoli on 25th April 1915, taking part in the famous landings on “Anzac Day”.
Bn HQ, Y & Z Companies of the 2nd Hampshires landed on the SS River Clyde, with the Royal Munster & Dublin Fusiliers and were met by devastating Turkish fire as they tried to disembark onto “V Beach”, as the ship got stuck in heavy water, many men drowned in heavy kit or were shot trying to get off the ship.
Meanwhile W & X Companies landed from the Aragon at “W Beach” between Cape Helles and Tekke Burnu.
Having made it through the bloody landings alive, the 2nd Hampshire were thrust into action, and Arthur made it only 2 weeks until he was killed in action.
On 6th May 1915, Arthur was killed in action when the 2nd Hampshires took part in the First Day of the Second Battle of Krithia, he would be one of the 6 Killed and 53 wounded that day, the war diary writes:
“6th May – Advance through front line of trenches, spent the night making good of the line gained. Capt Parker and Capt Penn Gaskell were wounded, 6 were killed and 53 wounded.”
The battle followed the recently unsucessful 1st Battle of Krithia fought on 28th April 1916, another attempt was made to advanced north towards Krithia Village an Achi Baba on the 6th May.
This however was similarly unsuccessful, the entire force took heavy casualties, Arthur being amongst the killed, the Army failed their objective gaining only about 1 KM of space.
The 3rd Attempt on 4th June 1915, would be a similarly doomed failure.
Arthur’s body was never found, being lost in the chaos of the battle, he is now commemorated on a Panel of the Helles Memorial.
His effects were claimed by his Mother Annie.
