Photo : NEWMP

Photo : NEWMP

Medal Index Card

He was born on the 1st August 1886 at 55, Caledonian Road, Jarrow and baptised on the 1st December 1886 at St Paul’s Church in Jarrow, his father John Johnson Huggin was 39 and his mother Elizabeth (nee Robertson) was 44. The parents were married on 12th May 1869 at St Paul’s Church in Jarrow.

In 1891 James was four years-old and living at 40 Mitchell Street, Walker with his father John (a shipyard plater), his mother Elizabeth, sisters Sarah and Mary; and a brother John. The family were residing at 30, Mitchell Street, Walker in 1901, and James is living with his parents, sister, Mary and brother John.

When he was 18 years-old James Robertson Huggin married Mary Ann Hindson [born 7th May 1885, Gateshead died 6th March 1973 at North Shields], in Longbenton, Northumberland on the 1st October 1904. Mary Ann was the daughter of Robert Hindson, (born 1855, died 1916), and Amelia Elizabeth [nee Shorten], (born 1859 Sprowston, Norfolk died Tynemouth September 1934), she was one of their six children and had three brothers and two sisters: William Robert, born 1877 died 1945, Charles Thacker born 1882, died 1945, and Matthew born 1891, died 1915 and sisters Margaret, born 1879 and Martha born 1880 died 1937.

On the 11th March 1903, James attested in the Royal Garrison Artillery Militia at Walker in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for 5 years, service nu 3255. He was in No 1 Company. Residing then at 85 Church Street, Walker. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall, Fair complexion, Brown Eyes and Brown Hair.

He was passed fit on the 4th May 1903 at Berwick-upon-Tweed. He was appointed as a Gunner to the Northumberland R.G.A. Militia.

On the 9th July 1906 he is promoted to Bombardier. Between 1904 and 1908 he was present at the camps for training. 27 days in 1905, 27 days in 1906, 20 days each for 1907 and 1908.

He was discharged on the 10th March 1909. Conduct described as very good.

The Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) was formed in 1899 as a distinct arm of the British Army's Royal Regiment of Artillery serving alongside the other two arms of the Regiment, the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) and the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA). The RGA were the 'technical' branch of the Royal Artillery who were responsible for much of the professionalization of technical gunnery that was to occur during the First World War. However it was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege artillery. The RGA were amalgamated with their sister arm the RFA in 1924, from this point onwards the only two arms within the Royal Regiment of Artillery are the Royal Artillery and the Royal Horse Artillery.

Following the division of the Artillery into the Mounted and Dismounted Branches in 1899, the Militia units became part of the Royal Garrison Artillery. In 1902 the unit became the Northumberland RGA (M).

In the Haldane Army reforms of 1908 the Territorial Force was formed, and an Expeditionary Force to serve where ever needed across the Empire. One of the lessons learned from the Boer War was the need to be able to man Ammunition Columns. During that conflict, personnel were taken from batteries across the Royal Artillery to meet the requirement.

It was therefore decided that the Militia Artillery Militia could provide that manpower on mobilisation as well as a reserve of trained Gunners. Consequently on the 26th July 1908 the unit became the Northumberland Royal Field Reserve Artillery.

Source : Northumbrian Gunner

Subsequently the men were incorporated into the Special Reserve and in 1909 the unit was disbanded.

In 1911 James and his family were living at 82 Laurel Street in Wallsend and he is now working as a coal miner hewer. James and Mary Ann had been married seven years and by then had four children born living, with only three surviving. Living with the family is James’ father John who is now a widower.

James and Mary had a family of 12 children of which eight were boys and four were girls: John Johnson (1905–1928): James Robertson (1906–1908); Amelia (1908–2009); Elizabeth Robertson (1910–1995); Martha (1911–2004); William R (1914–1914); Mathew Hindson (1915–1986); Thomas Henry (1918–2005); Albert Hindson (1922–1998); Mary Hindson (1924–2008); Robert (1929–1929) and their youngest Reginald James Huggins, born 17th June 1927.

On the 4th September 1914, James re-enlisted for WW1 and served with the 1/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Army No: 202349. The 1/4th Battalion, which was one of four Northumberland Fusilier Territorial Battalions, all of whom were mobilised when war broke out on the 4th of August 1914. The following day, 17 officers and 660 men from the 4th Battalion reported to the war station and embarked on a period of intensive training in Newcastle and later the Blyth area. The 4th Battalion sailed for France, as an integral part of the Northumbrian (Territorial) Division, on the 20th of April 1915.

He was severely wounded on the 15th May 1917 and because of these wounds he was discharged on the 20th October 1917 due to wounds and was the recipient of a Silver War Badge No: 266765. Cause of discharge KR Para 392 (XVI)/Wounds.

On the 17th August 1925, James’ father, John Johnson Huggin died at 418 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, he was 78 years-old. James registered his father’s death and at that time was living at 15 Diamond Street in Wallsend.

At the time of the 1939 Register on the 29th September 1939; James and Mary were living in 50 North Road, Wallsend; also living there were sons Thomas Henry and Albert Hindson, as well as two other children, which remain officially closed at this time - these were probably Mary H and Reginald.

James Robertson Huggin died on the 15th August 1970 in St George’s Hospital, Morpeth, when he was 84 years-old. He was a retired shipyard labourer when he died and his home address at that time was 3 Orchard Gardens, Westmorland Estate, Wallsend. His son Thomas Henry Huggin, of 7 Warkworth Avenue, Wallsend registered his death.

His wife, Mary Ann passed away on 6th March 1973 in North Tyneside.

Research: Cynthia Kent/James Pasby