Private Dick George Briggs - Australian Imperial Forces AIF
Private Briggs was possibly born in UK but came from Drummoyne, Sydney and served with the 3rd battalion, Australian Infantry (AIF) Service Number 4627.
He signed up in 1915 in Sydney, Australia.
He trained for the Gallipoli campaign but was posted to France around 1916. He served at the Battle of Somme where he was wounded in the leg and subsequently hospitalised in the UK.
While in the Uk he visited his great grandfather in Ossett, West Yorkshire and is said to have told relatives that if he was sent back he would probably not return.
In April 1917 he fought at small village Hermies, France. They captured the village and consolidated the trenches. According to an eye witness account, Briggs was instructed to get some cigarettes from the pack of a wounded man. As he went to do so they were both killed by a shell blast from a stray shell. He died on Monday Easter Monday 9th April 1917, aged 27.
He is buried near where he fell about a mile south west of Hermies, with 2 other comrades. He is remembered with honour at the Beaumetz Cross Roads Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
item 36. Wooden commemorative plaque containing :-
A photograph of Private Briggs
Two medals : The British War Medal and The Victory Medal
His identity disc
An insignia (shoulder flash)
A bronze disc containing the inscription He died for freedom and honour : Dick George Briggs
CONTRIBUTOR
Jonathon David Rusby Clark
DATE
1915 - 1917
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
1
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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