BRIGGS, John Edward
| Other Name: | Briggs, Charles - Boer War Nominal Roll - Alias |
|---|---|
| Service Numbers: | 109, 654, 123 |
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1914, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 49th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia, 10 March 1880 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Cook |
| Died: | Shell Fire, France, 15 September 1918, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension Plot VI, Row A, Grave No. 14, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 654 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 109, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
| 1 Mar 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 109, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 463 notes 3rd QMI embarked 1 Mar 1900 aboard Duke of Portland arriving Cape Town 2 Apr 1900. | |
| 1 Mar 1900: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 109, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
| 21 Jun 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 109, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 465 notes 3rd QMI embarked 9 May 1901 at Cape Town returning to Australia aboard Morayshire arriving Sydney 7 Jun 1901 (rail to Brisbane), disbanded 21 Jun 1901. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 654, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes he was part of 1st Draft of 6th QIB embarked Sydney 20 Aug 1901 arriving Cape Town 22 Sep 1901. | |
| 1 Jan 1902: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 654, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
| 14 Aug 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 654, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 90, notes returned to Australia aboard Norfolk arriving Brisbane 7 Aug 1902, discharged 14 Aug 1902. |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 123, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 123, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Sep 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 123, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Star of England, Brisbane | |
| 9 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 123, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 15 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 123, 49th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days" |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- John Edward Briggs enlisted for conflicts on 3 separate occasions and on each occasion enlisted under the name Charles Briggs. On his last service (WW1) he was K.I.A. in France and, possibly through contacting N.O.K., it was discovered that his true name was John Edward Briggs. His WW1 Attestation Paper was amended in red accordingly to correct his name.
John Edward Briggs (aka Charles Briggs) served twice in the South African (Boer) War and again in WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 109, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer war. Second service was as a Private S.N. 654, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft), Boer war. Third service was as a Private S.N. 123, 2nd Light Horse Regiment/49th Infantry Battalion AIF, WW1 during which he was killed in action in France.
When he joined the 3rd QMI (as Charles Briggs) in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 3 Mar 1900, it was noted he was single and address was John St, Paddington, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 3rd QMI, Bk 1 p. 49, he is recorded as Chas Briggs and it is noted he directed part of his pay to his father W. Briggs, John St, Paddington. He served the full tour of the 3rd QMI and returned to Brisbane where he was discharged 20 Jun 1901.
Not long after he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa. Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB but are recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks.
He was recorded as Charles Briggs in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 90, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his sister Annie Briggs, John St, Paddington, Brisbane.
The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 654, Private Chas. Briggs, remained in South Africa for further service. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 90, notes he returned to Brisbane and was discharged 14 Aug 1902.
He enlisted again in 1914 for WW1 and his Attestation Paper, dated 31 Aug 1914, records him as Charles Briggs (later amended in red to John Edward Briggs) and notes that; he was born at Stanthorpe and was 34 years 5 months of age; he was single and a cook; his N.O.K. was his sister Mrs. A, McKenzie, Frederick St, Taringa; and he had previously served with the 3rd QIB and Doyle's Scouts in the Boer war. He was K.I.A. in 1918 in France.
While he enlisted as Charles Briggs it appears following his death it came to light that not only was his true name John Edward Briggs, but that he was also married prior to enlisting. His Attestation was amended in red to correct his name and his N.O.K. to his wife.
His wife provided a Statutory Declaration (p. 64 of his WW1 records), dated 24 Feb 1919, stating she was the legal wife of Charles Briggs whose correct name was John Edward Briggs, that he served in the South African War and she held his discharge papers, and that they were neither divorced or separated. She explained he was generally known as Charles Briggs and he used that name when enlisting for WW1 as that matched with his previous enlistments in the Boer war. His N.O.K. on his Attestation Paper was adjusted to his wife Mrs. M. Briggs, and then again to Mrs. M. White after she remarried later in 1919.
John Edward Briggs was born on 10 Mar 1880 at Stanthorpe, a son to William Briggs and Emma Briggs (nee Ramshaw). He married Margaret Ede on 5 Nov 1903 in Queensland.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 469 & 519; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 3rd QMI, Bk 1 p. 49, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 90; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).
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