Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Adam Biggs was the youngest of 5 known children, the son of John Adam Biggs born circa 1860, in Herefordshire, and Mary Hopkins native of Ruardean Hill, Gloucestershire, born 1858. They were married August 20th 1876 at Holy Trinity, Parish of Drybrook, Forest of Dene, settling at Ruardean Hill, where their daughter Rhoda was born February 9th 1878. They migrated to the north east of England during the next two years, settling at Washington, County Durham where Mary gave birth to John William in 1880. Living at 11, New York, Washington in 1881, John Adam was employed as a coal miner. They remained at Washington for at least 3 years, the birth place of daughter Harriet, March 15th 1882 and Andrew in 1884, before transferring to Gosforth Row, Longbenton, a hamlet in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland. Alice Biggs was born there in 1890, her father had found work as a coal miner, but the family had returned to County Durham by the time Adam was born in 1893 at Nettlesworth.
John and Mary experienced both great sadness and joy in the coming years. Their daughter Alice, only 8 years of age died in 1899. Their surviving daughters both married during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June) 1900, Harriet to Joseph Parkin of Willington, County Durham and Rhoda, May 26th 1900 to John Anderson. Their son John William was married at Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1903 to Mary Ramsey of Coxlodge, but sadly their son, Andrew, a coal miner/putter below ground, died in 1905 aged 20 years.
John Adam Biggs and Adam (18), both employed at the colliery as a hewer and a hanger-on respectively, in 1911, were living in 3 rooms at 27, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, assisted by their housekeeper, Sarah Jane Park, listed as married, accompanied by her daughter Winifred, as his wife Elizabeth Biggs nee Hopkins had died during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1911, aged 52 years.
When war was declared in August 1914 the Army raised new regimental battalions. Adam Biggs was one of the first to enlist in 1914 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, assigned to the newly formed 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, as Private 306. The new recruits trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, January 29th 1915. Prior to his regiment’s departure for Ripon, Yorkshire, in June 1915, joining the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, Private Adam Biggs was married during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1915 to Florence Ada Ivy Allen born January 12th 1896 in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland, whom he had met while she was living with her widowed grandfather Richard Allen, a neighbour of the Biggs family, living at 21, Beaumont Street., Westerhope.
Private Adam Biggs moved with the 34th Division from Ripon to Salisbury Plain in late August 1915 for final training and departed England for the front in France, January 1916, where the division concentrated at La Crosse near St Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they made their way to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming battles.
The opening battle of the Somme due to commence June 29th 1916 was delayed until July 1st by bad weather. The 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers were in action on the first day during the Battle of Albert. At 7.28am two huge mines were detonated under the German lines, one to the south and one to the north of the village of La Boisselle which signalled the beginning of the attack. The 20th Battalion had 500 yards to cover under heavy machine gun fire, nevertheless, capturing Scots and Sausage Redoubts. The battalion lost 26 officers and 564 men.
Amongst the missing of the day was Private 306 Adam Biggs Northumberland Fusiliers, later confirmed as deemed to have been killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,318 names of British and South African forces inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating those who died on the Somme before March 1918 and who have no known grave. Private Biggs was 24 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension of 10 shillings a week as of January 29th 1917 and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The marriage of Adam and Florence was childless. Florence remarried in 1918 to George Armstrong, born February 20th 1887 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The British War Medal and Victory Medal awarded to Private Biggs were sent, addressed to Mrs Florence Ada Ivy Armstrong, 118, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. She and her new husband had 2 known children, Elizabeth born June 1st 1919 at Castle Ward and Charles Howard Armstrong, 1923, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, both registered as, “mother Allen.”
Florence Ada Ivy Armstrong-Biggs nee Allen died in 1990, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, details as regards the father of Private Adam Biggs, John Adam Biggs, as yet unknown.
In Gods safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Adam Biggs is remembered at Westerhope on W77.01 and at Whorlton on W53.01
