Gordon Coutts Higginbotham was an emergency commission to The Sherwood Foresters, from the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 15th of March 1942. His army number was 329230. He later became a War Substantive Lieutenant (W.S Lieutenant or Temporary Captain) on the 1st of October 1942. He would become Lieutenant in April 1945 and finally Captain on the 23rd of August 1949.  

Throughout the Second World War (WWII), Gordon served in the Burma Campaign (with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment). Later, Gordon was Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of East Africa Command, which would continue to function post-war.  

In 1948, Gordon was serving in Palestine with the 2nd Battalion, and he was awarded the Military Cross (M.C.). The London Gazette reported the following, on the 15th of October: 

“At 1130 hours on 28th April, 1948 the Brigade Commander, 3 Infantry Brigade ordered an immediate action Force to proceed to JAFFA with the role of preventing the Jewish Forces from invading JAFFA. This Force was composed of two Platoons 2 R. Lincolns and two tanks of the 4/7th Dragoon Guards, and was under the command of Captain G. C. Higginbotham, 2 R. Lincolns. By the time the force arrived in JAFFA the I.Z.L. Forces had over-run MANSHIYA and were within 200 yards of the northern end of King George V Avenue. The I.Z.L. attack was determined and well organised. The A.L.A. defence, which had never been very serious, was now chaotic and practically useless. Captain Higginbotham went into action immediately he arrived, and by skilful and determined use of his Force succeeded in checking the I.Z.L. attack. After a short lull the Jewish Force, supported by three Armoured Cars attempted to flank attack. Captain Higginbotham quickly manoeuvred his Force to meet this and by 1600 hours had driven the Jews back to their previously prepared strongpoints and sniper posts. Both sides then took up position for the night and although sniping continued throughout the night, no major sortie was attempted. The following morning, April 29th, the Jews again took up the offensive, supported by Mortars. Captain Higginbotham, personally leading the tanks, went into action against several sniper posts which he succeeded in destroying. By the afternoon the Jews asked for a truce. Had it not been for the prompt and determined action of this Force on the afternoon of the 28th April, before reinforcements arrived, there is no doubt that the I.Z.L. would have penetrated deeply into JAFFA.” 

He is further recorded as being Captain, with The Sherwood Foresters in 1952. Gordon would later become the Adjunct at the Derby Depot for several years.