Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Briggs was born 1895 at Bill Quay, near Gateshead, County Durham, the youngest of 2 sons and a daughter, the only surviving of 12 children born to James Briggs native of Washington County Durham and his wife Sarah Greener born 1858 at Middle Rainton, County Durham whom he married in 1880. They set up home at Cottage Row, Coxhoe, where James worked as a coal miner, later moving to 82, Waggonway Street, Heworth and taking up employment at the local colliery. Their sons Robert (8) and George (6) are listed as living with them in 1901, however their daughter Isabella (14) was living at Boat House Row, Harraton, Chester-le-Street, under the surname of Chambers, listed as their sister in law by John and Alice Rosebury. Isabella did not marry Joseph Chambers, who continued to live with his parents, until 1907, aged 21 years but seems to have been promised to him as a child. In 1911 Isabella, her husband Joseph and two young children were living at 3, Temple Street, Shotton Colliery with her parents and brothers who were now employed at the colliery along with their father, Robert (18) as a putter, George (16) as a driver.
George Briggs enlisted at Sunderland where he was living at 12, Norman Street, working as a labourer, March 1st 1915, assigned as Private 408 19th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. They assembled in West Hartlepool before moving to Cocken Hall in May, after the 18th Battalion DLI had moved out. A month later, however, the 19th Battalion moved again to Masham in North Yorkshire, as part of the 106th Brigade of the newly-formed 35th Division. Training was completed on Salisbury Plain and they sailed from Southampton January 31st 1916 as part of the British Expeditionary Force. February 11th 1916 before they entered the trenches near Neuve Chapelle for the first time, the battalion along with the rest of 106 Brigade was inspected by Lord Kitchener.
July 1st 1916, the 19th Battalion moved south by rail to join the Somme battle, however Private Briggs was instead on his way back to England for treatment to an ulcerated leg. Once fully recovered he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion at South Shields for retraining and again drafted to France, March 3rd 1917. In the field he was transferred to the 14th Battalion joining them during a second miserable winter in the trenches before they participated during the attack, April 1917 in the Lens coalfield. There, after successfully capturing Nash Alley, the battalion was forced to retreat, having suffered 250 casualties.
Private 408 George Briggs Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, according to the Register of Soldier’s Effects, 20th-22nd April 1917, however the CWGC have adopted the date of April 24th as his demise. Private Briggs was 22 years old and single. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 20,000 names of officers and men inscribed on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, commemorating those who died in the sector and who have no known grave.
His mother Sarah received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 113, Walker Street, Gateshead, at the time of her son’s enlistment the family had been living at 70, Coxon Street, Bill Quay, Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Briggs is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
