Joseph Higginbotham was born in Bagillt, Flintshire during 1889.   The 1891 Census states that the family lived at 5 Conways Row, Bagillt.  The head of the family was William Higginbotham aged 39, who was employed as a Coal Miner at the Bettisfield Colliery.   His wife was Esther Higginbotham aged 42 and their 4 (four) children  were William Edward Higginbotham aged 11, Mariah Higginbotham aged 9, Eliza Higginbotham aged 7 and Joseph Higginbotham aged 2.

Joseph Higginbotham subsequently married Ellen Davies and they lived at 5 Walk Cottages, Bagillt, Flintshire.  They had four children.

Joseph arrived in France with the Battalion on Monday 19th July 1915, aged 26 years. He served with distinction in that theatre of war before being posted to the Middle East where he was Killed in Action on Monday 11th March 1918 at Tell’ Asur aged 29.

County Herald Newspaper – Friday 29 March 1918 – Headed – Death of Local Soldier.                 On Monday the information was received by Mrs Higginbotham who resides in Walk Cottages, Bagillt, that her husband Private Joseph Higginbotham had been killed in action on the 11th inst. The deceased who was about 30 years of age was well known to many of the residents of Bagillt, where prior to his enlistment he was employed at Bettisfield Colliery.  He leaves a widow and four children.

On 24 July 1918 a payment of £18.17s.8d was made by the War Office to Ellen Higginbotham, this being monies owed to her husband Joseph.  On 8 January 1920, a further payment which is recorded as a War Gratuity of £9.0s.0d was also made to her.

He is also remembered on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.

There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for Joseph Higginbotham at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, which was completed on 29 September 1919 by Ellen Higginbotham.