Topic: William John Liggins
Topic type:
William John Liggins (Service no. 39068) was a First World War Soldier with links to Burwood.
William Liggins was born on the 29 May 1894, in Christchurch. He was the youngest son of Joel and Mary Ann Liggins of 14 Queensbury Street, Burwood Christchurch. They were a prominent Burwood family who farmed poultry. Liggins Street was named after them on 8 February 1933.
When William joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, he was a single man of medium height with hazel eyes and brown hair. He was a draper by trade and worked at the New Zealand Clothing Factory.
He enlisted in 1916, embarked New Zealand early 1917 on HMNZT75, Waitemata and disembarked in Plymouth, Devon, England. Private Liggins was part of the Auckland Regiment MZEF 1st Battalion.
He was killed in action in Le Cateau, France on 1 October, 1918 at age 25.
He is remembered with honour at Anneux British Cemetery, France, and on the Burwood War Memorial, Christchurch.
He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Related resources
- Online Cenotaph record for William Liggins. Auckland War Memorial Museum
- William Liggins military personnel file. Archives New Zealand (Archway)
References
- Killed in Action. Star , Issue 12468, 6 November 1918, Page 4
- PERSONALS. Sun, Volume V, Issue 1477, 6 November 1918, Page 4
- THE FALLEN AND WOUNDED. Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16367, 12 November 1918, Page 3
