B112940 Rifleman Charles Edward Higgins was born on May 13, 1924, in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Thomas Joseph Higgins and Bertha Nellie Grace. He had four brothers and three sisters. Three of his brothers also served during WWII.

In order to work Higgins left St. Basil’s School at 15, having completed grade 7.  He held several jobs but when enlisting he was a plater with the American Electro Plating Company.

He enlisted on 14 May 1942, in Toronto with the 48th Highlanders, trained in Guelph and Camp Borden, and was charged with being absent without leave on several occasions.

On 6 August 1943, he transferred to The Queen’s Own Rifles, however, he was charged twice more with being AWOL, given detention and docked significant pay.

Rifleman Higgins landed on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was killed in action, aged 20. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference I. A. 13.