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George-Higgins

A veteran interview with

George Higgins

George Higgins was a career soldier who served in Hong Kong, Korea and Cyprus. One of the first British troops to land in Korea [with the Middlesex regiment] he remembers life north of the 38th parallel along with many other incidents from a long and fondly remembered time in service.

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About George Higgins

George Higgins delivers a captivating tale of his travels as a soldier during the 1940s and 1950s. Growing up in London, George first joined the military at the age of twelve (lying that he was fourteen) where he became a runner for the Home Guard. He was forced to keep it a secret from his father who was, at first, adamantly against the idea of a military career after he received a low pension from serving in WWI.

When he finally turned eighteen, George enlisted with the Royal Engineers before transferring to the Royal Artillery. In 1948, he was awoken early one morning by an officer, announcing that was being sent to Hong Kong.

He remembers a tumultuous voyage to the east. At one point, he was taken ill after developing kidney problems, something which became a reoccurring liability during his service. Arriving in Hong Kong, he recalls defending the border against the Chinese who were trying to cross the Sham Chum River. However, he saw little action.

Soon war in Korea erupted and he decided to volunteer for the Middlesex Regiment. Landing during the winter, George was faced with unpleasant conditions. Much of his experience consisted of hiding in trenches where there was less combat and more sleeping. Food became a constant struggle and the British lacked the equipment to keep clean and sustain warmth. Despite these issues, he was saddened after he was eventually invalided from Korea when his kidney problems returned.

A few years later, he joined the regiment in Cyprus during the Cyprus Emergency. The Greek General Georgios Grivus had begun a war of independence against the British and the troops were tasked with reducing the riots. He remembers the confusion of a terrorist war, fought at close quarters, and finding it hard to distinguish who was a terrorist and who wasn’t. This confusion led to one incident where an innocent elderly lady on a donkey was shot in a case of mistaken identity.

Tragically, the conflict’s toll also affected his personal life; George’s wife was with him in Cyprus, but amid the constant strain, she suffered a miscarriage, which led to her decision to return to England. She asked him to accompany her, and though it meant leaving the military, he agreed. Sadly, they later separated. Despite these hardships, he remembers his military years fondly, always finding humour even in challenging times.

George’s interview captures the harsh realities and strengths of being a soldier; forced to accept one’s mortality and the consequences of their actions while managing to retain courage and optimism.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Matt Pitt

Copyright:
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Home | Veterans | George Higgins

A veteran interview with

George Higgins

George-Higgins

George Higgins was a career soldier who served in Hong Kong, Korea and Cyprus. One of the first British troops to land in Korea [with the Middlesex regiment] he remembers life north of the 38th parallel along with many other incidents from a long and fondly remembered time in service.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Higgins, George. A Veteran Interview with George Higgins. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 8 Oct. 2014 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-higgins/. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Higgins, G. (2014, October 8). A Veteran Interview with George Higgins [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved May 17, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-higgins/
Chicago Style:
Higgins, George. 2014. A Veteran Interview with George Higgins. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, October 8. Accessed May 17, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-higgins/
Harvard Style:
Higgins, G. (2014). A Veteran Interview with George Higgins. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 8 October. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-higgins/ (Accessed: 17 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Higgins, G. A Veteran Interview with George Higgins [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2014 Oct 8 [cited 2025 May 17]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/george-higgins/
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Photo Gallery icon 4 Photos
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