Photo: Geordie at War Project
In Gateshead (East) Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
At rest.
In Loving Memory of
Mary
dear beloved daughter of
F.W. & B. Briggs,
died May 20th 1919,
aged 15 years and 11 months.
also Fred. W. Briggs
E.R.A. H.M.S. P.31
dearly beloved son of
F.W. and the late M. Briggs
who died of pneumonia at
Portsmouth, Oct. 28th 1918.
Aged 26 years.
Interred in Naval Cemetery, Haslar.
Fredk. Wm.
dearly beloved husband of
Barbara briggs
died Jany. 8th 1924
in his 74th year.
Also Barbara Briggs
died August 29th 1946
in her 87th year.
This but a little while
And He shall come again
Who died that we might live, who lives
That we with Him may reign.
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:
Fred Briggs was born in Gateshead on 28 September 1892 son of Frederick William and Mary Anne (nee Aldred). Fred’s mother Mary died in 1896 when Fred was only 3 years old. His father later married Barbara and Fred lived in Durham Terrace with his siblings.
As a younger man Fred was an apprentice fitter. He served in the Army and Merchant Service prior to entry into war service. He began his service 11 November 1915 on H.M.S. Victory then later on H.M.S. Ganges. He was described as 5’ 4” in height with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a sallow complexion. He had a tattoo of a butterfly and flower on his right forearm.
His conduct was always reported as very good. He was considered capable of taking charge of the engines of small ships and by early 1918 was recommended for promotion. At the time of his death he was a 3rd class engine room artificer working on the patrol boat, P 31.
On 28 October 1918 Fred died of pneumonia in Portsmouth aged 26 years. He was interred in Royal Naval Cemetery, Haslar, Gosport.
Fred W. Briggs is remembered at Gateshead on G39.004 G39.041 and G39.055 and on our List of Ships' Crews
