by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1930
NPG x168301
bromide print, 1930
NPG x168301
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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John
Frederick Andrews
b: 1 Sep 1875 r: 1 Sep 1930
d:
1 Jun 1948
KCB
- 4 Jun 1928 (CB - 3 Jun 1919),
KBE -
3 Jun 1925, DSO - 27 Sep 1901, AFC - 3 Jun 1919,
MiD - 10 Sep 1901, MiD - 17 Feb 1915, MiD -
1 Jan 1916, MiD - 4 Jan 1917, MiD - 11 Dec 1917, MiD - 20
May 1918,
LoH, O -
3 Nov 1914,
(Army): - 2 Lt: 15 Jun 1895, Lt: 15 Jun 1898, Capt: 15 Mar 1901, Maj: 30 Aug 1911, (T) Lt Col: 9 Nov 1914, (B) Lt Col: 18 Feb 1915, Act Brig-Gen: 23 Aug 1915, (T) Brig-Gen: 30 Jan 1916, Brig- Gen: 25 Aug 1916, (B) Col: 1 Jan 1918.
(RAF):
- (T) Brig-Gen [Col]:
1 Apr 1918, (T) Maj-Gen:
29
Apr 1918, AVM: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr
1918], AM: 1 Jan 1929.
Photograph (left) - Sir John Frederick Andrews Higgins
© National Portrait Gallery, London
16 Mar 1893: Gentleman Cadet (5252), RMA, Woolwich
15 Jun 1895: Officer, Royal Field Artillery (South Africa – 1899-1902)
22 Mar 1901: Adjutant, Royal Field Artillery
28
Oct 1912: Flight
Commander, No 3 Sqn RFC.
30 May 1913: Officer Commanding, No 5 Sqn RFC. (Various types – Farnborough/Western
Front)
30 Oct - 17 Nov 1914: Admitted to hospital (bullet wound)
9
Nov 1914: Officer Commanding, 4th Wing RFC.
17 Apr 1915: Returned to UK
18 Apr 1915: ?
2 Jun 1915: Re-embarked for France
2
Jun 1915: Officer Commanding, 3rd Wing RFC.
25 Aug 1915: Brigadier-General Commanding, II Brigade RFC.
15 Jan 1916: Brigadier-General Commanding, VI Brigade RFC
18 Jan 1916:
30
Jan 1916: Brigadier-General
Commanding, III Brigade RFC/RAF.
29 Nov - 1 Dec 1916: Temporary duty in Paris
18 - 21 Jan 1917: Temporary duty in Verdun
17 - 18 Oct 1917: Temporary duty with French Army
1 Apr 1918: GOC (Designate), No 3 Area
29
Apr 1918: GOC, No 3 Area.
8
May 1918: GOC, Midland Area.
25 Feb 1919: GOC, RAF in the Field
6-19 Mar 1919: Attached, HQ 2nd Brigade
7-9 Apr 1919:
28-30 Apr 1919:
1 Jun 1919: Posted to HQ 2nd Brigade
8 Jul 1919: GOC, RAF Rhine
22-27 Jul 1919:
1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Major-General
15-18 Sep 1919:
3 Oct 1919: Returned to Home Establishment
6
Oct 1919: AOC, Northern Area.
1
Apr 1920: Director of Personnel
28 Oct 1920 - 16 Jan 1921: Placed on half pay list, scale A
17 Jan 1921: Supernumerary, HQ Inland Area - attached to Air Ministry.
7 Mar 1922: Attended Senior Officers' War Course, RN Staff College, Greenwich.
26
Apr 1922: AOC, Inland Area.
13
Mar 1924: AOC, Iraq Command.
27
Dec 1926: Air Member for Supply and Research.
1 Sep 1930: Retired
6
Oct 1939: AOC in C, Air Forces in India.
He was educated at Charthouse before entering the RMA, Woolwich in 1893.
Having gained his RAeC Certificate (No 264
on 20 July 1912) he became
one of the first students of the Central Flying School, gaining a creditable 95%
in the his written exam and was immediately seconded to the RFC for four years. Joining No 3 Squadron he assisted his CO in carrying out some
of the earliest (unofficial) experiments into firing guns from an aircraft.
Wounded in the thigh in October 1914 he was repatriated to the UK.
Whilst commanding the 3rd
Wing, a Taube flew over his HQ airfield. He
immediately detailed as crew to " go take his number".
The crew took off giving chase, managing to force it down, they landed
nearby, removed the aircraft's serial number and flew back to their base.
Higgins got slightly more then he had expected when the crew reported to
him with the trophy and the comment "Number you asked for, Sir!".
Retiring at his own request in 1930, he settled in India, working for an aircraft company
there. However, by 1933 he was Chairman of
W G Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd, A V Roe and Co Ltd and Air Service
Training Ltd as well as being a director of Armstrong Siddeley Motors Ltd. With the outbreak of war in
1939, he was recalled and appointed AOC, Air Forces in India until August 1940
when he finally retired to Britain
This page was last updated on 16/03/25©
A A F Hickman 