Andrew Bell Briggs
He was a gas fitter.
- Family History
- Military history
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Andrew Richard Bell Briggs was born on 19th April 1893 at Nottingham, he was baptised along with his siblings on 13th May 1901 at St Ann’s Nottingham, he was the son of Andrew Bell Briggs a furniture upholsterer and Phoebe Briggs née Gibson of 63 Sneinton Road, Nottingham.
His father Andrew Bell Briggs was born in 1861 at Nottingham, his mother Phoebe Gibson was born in 1864 at Thurgarton, they were married in 1888 their marriage was recorded in the Nottingham Registration district, they had 5 children.
In the 1911 census the family are living at 63 Sneinton Road, Nottingham Andrew Bell 49 yrs is a furniture upholsterer he is living with his wife Phoebe 47 yrs and their children, Elizabeth Amelia 22 yrs a lace finisher, Phoebe Mable 20 yrs a lace finisher, Andrew Bell 18 yrs a gas fitter, Joseph Bell 14 yrs of age and Alfred Bell 8 years of age.
Private Andrew Bell Briggs enlisted at Nottingham on 7th September 1914 into the Seaforth Highlanders but transferred to the Durham Light Infantry three days later, 10th September 1914. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 26th November 1914 and posted to 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He died in Connaught Hospital, Aldershot, 14th February 1915 of pneumonia, and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 18 February 1915: 'Briggs. On February 14th at Aldershot of pneumonia, Corporal (sic) Andrew Briggs, late 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, son of Andrew and Phoebe Briggs of Crown Street, aged 22. General Cemetery.'
An article published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 19th February 1915 reads:-
“NOTTINGHAM SOLDIER’S FUNERAL.
“WITH FULL MILITARY HONOURS.
“Another soldier was buried, with full military honours at the Nottingham General Cemetery this afternoon [19th February 1915], the remains of Corporal Andrew Briggs, of the 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, whose home was in Crown-street, Nottingham, being borne to the cemetery on a gun carriage supplied the Notts. R.H.A., in charge of Corporal Field, and carried to the graveside by a party of R.H.A. men.
“Firing and bugle parties were supplied by the South Notts. Hussars, the men being under the direction of Sergeant Smith, while a large crowd of sympathisers was assembled near the grave.
“Corporal Briggs, who was only 22 years of age, died suddenly at Aldershot of pneumonia on Sunday [14th February 1915]
Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
Andrew Bell Briggs
Commonwealth wargrave headstone marking the grave of Andrew Bell Briggs, situated at The General Cemetery, Nottingham,
Courtesy Peter Gillings