Major Basil Farquhar HUGGINS Croix de Guerre
A Battery, Honourable Artillery Company attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Date of birth: 6th April 1885
Date of death: 4th March 1968

Died aged 82
Buried St Mark's Church, Hadlow Down
Basil Farquhar Huggins was born at Whyteleafe in Surrey on the 6th of April 1885 the second son of Charles Lang Huggins JP, a stockbroker, and Agnes Maud (nee Dingwall) Huggins of Hadlow Grange, Hadlow Down near Uckfield in Sussex.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until December 1898 where he was a member of the Football XI in 1897 and 1898 and of the Cricket XI in 1898. He was a member of the Choir. The school magazine wrote of his 1897 football season: - "(Centre half back). A fearless and dashing worker, very quick but somewhat too wild to be safe kick, and must learn to stick closer to the opposing forward."

They wrote this on his 1898 football season: - "(Centre half), has also rather stood still, has plenty of pluck, and is perhaps the best tackler on the team."

Of his 1898 cricket season they wrote: - "A determined little bat, and when he does time them properly his hits are excellent, but he is terribly uncertain. Has caught some very hot catches but is the wildest of throwers."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "Also goes to Wellington, and leaves a big gap in the Football XI, the choir and the stage."

He went on to Wellington College where he was in Mr. Brougham’s House from January 1899 to 1902. On leaving school he worked as a broker at the London Stock Exchange and was a Member of the Stock Exchange from the 25th of March 1909.

He joined the Honourable Artillery Company as a Gunner in 1907, serving with “A” Battery and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in “A” Battery of the Honourable Artillery Company on the 15th of March 1913.

On the outbreak of war he was mobilised and posted to the Reserve Battery from the 4th of August 1914 to April 1916 where he was involved in forming new batteries with the rush of new recruits. He assisted in forming two second line batteries which then proceeded to France. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 7th of April 1915, with precedence from the 1st of October 1914 and to Temporary Captain on the 7th of April 1915 He then became involved with training a third line unit and handed over the command of 3/”B” Battery on August the 9th 1915.

He embarked for France on the 26th of May 1916, was promoted to Acting Major on the 25th of September 1916 and was attached to the Royal Field Artillery in January 1917. He was promoted to Acting Major in the Royal Garrison Artillery on the 15th of August 1917 and served with the 319th Siege Battery. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre, which was announced by the War Office on the 29th of November 1918 and was conferred on him by the French President.

On the 30th of March 1920 he wrote to the Adjutant of the Honourable Artillery Company requesting that he be allowed to resign his commission. After some delay, he resigned his commission on the 9th of August 1921 and left the army with the rank of Major.

During the Second World War he re-enlisted and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps on the 25th of May 1940. He was promoted to temporary Captain on the 11th of September 1941.

He was married at St Stephen's Church in South Kensington to Rhona Lucia (nee Buswell) on the 15th of October 1913 and they lived at 18 Hartington Mansions in Eastbourne. They had three sons, all of whom lost their lives during the Second World War:-

Engineman Derek Anthony Charles Huggins RN HMS "St Helier" Royal Naval Patrol Service, was killed in action on the 19th of August 1942, Pilot Officer Roderick Huggins 40 Squadron Royal Air Force, was killed in action on the 13th of January 1942 and 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Plumer Huggins 2nd Battalion East Kent Regiment, was killed in action on the 28th of May 1940.

He died at a nursing home.
Went on to Wellington College

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