David BRIGGS

Surname: BRIGGS

of American River KI

Christian Names: David

Cousin Harry Briggs KI

Date & Place of Birth: Nottingham England

Service Number: 4151

Service Unit: 50th Battalion

Date & Place of Enlistment: 23rd August, 1915 Adelaide, Age 25

Profession prior to Enlistment: Farmer

Date of Return to Aust. & Date of Discharge: N/A

Nature of Casualty: WIA 3 times

Date KIA: 25th April, 1918 will witnessed by A.O.

Place KIA: Villers Bretonneux Buick & V.R. Buick

Buried: Hanguard Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot II, Row A, Grave #17)

Next of Kin (NOK) Address

Father: William Briggs, Stapleford England

Mother:

Brother(s): Harold Joseph Briggs, Stapleford England

Sister(s): Mrs George Blackshaw, Bristol England

Other:

Service

Egypt: Yes

France: Yes

Campaign Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Bravery Awards, Citations, MID:

Rank: Corporal

Kingscote Honour Board Yes

Penneshaw Honour Board Yes

Penneshaw Memorial Yes

KI Connection: Farmer at American River

1914 Committee member for Sports Day American River News. (1914, April 25). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189512540

1915 Mr D. Briggs, of the Red Banks, also leaves shortly to go into camp in the city.

LEAVING FOR CAMP. (1915, August 21). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189511886

Portrait of 4151 Private (Pte) David Briggs, 50th Battalion. A farmer from American River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 13th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion on 11 January 1916 aboard HMAT Borda (A30) for Suez. In late February 1916 he was transferred to the 50th Battalion which relocated to the Western Front, France, in early June 1916. Pte Briggs was wounded in action near Fleurbaix on 6 July 1916 and was able to rejoin his unit four weeks later. He was wounded in action on a second occasion in mid-August 1916 which resulted in his evacuation to England for treatment and recuperation before rejoining the battalion in late January 1917. Pte Briggs was appointed Lance Corporal (L Cpl) on 17 April 1917. L Cpl Briggs was wounded in action on a third occasion near Messines on 10 June 1917, was treated in Boulogne and rejoined his unit in mid-September 1917. He was promoted to Corporal (Cpl) on 15 November 1917. Cpl Briggs was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux on 25 April 1918 and is buried in the Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He was aged 28 years.