Ralph Bernard Higham was the son of John and Florence Higham, of Billinge, Lancashire. He enlisted into the The King’s Own Royal Regiment and volunteered for airborne forces.

Sergeant Higham successfully completed his glider pilot training and was posted to B Squadron, 3 Flight, First Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Sgt Higham was killed in action during an enemy tank attack which also cost the lives of S/Sgts Roy Woods and Raymond Picton on 25 September 1944, aged 26, and was given a field burial in an isolated group of 8 graves in a garden in Arnhem near the junction of of Benedendorpsweg and Kneppelhoutweg, and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 22 August 1945.

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