William James Briggs
In the 1911 census he was a farm labourer
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William James Briggs was born in 1896 at Ossington, Nottinghamshire he was the son of John Briggs a domestic gardener and his wife Mary Jane Briggs née Dowswell . He was actually registered and named in the census as Willie James Briggs although the name William was used in his time in the army.
His father John was born in 1864 at Long Bennington, Grantham, his mother Mary Jane Dowswell was born in 1870 at Newark, they were married on 15th May 1891 at St Mary's Church, Newark they had 3 children, sadly 1 died in infancy or ealey childhood, there other child was Reginald Robert born 1906 in Normanton.
In the next few years after his birth, the family left Ossington and was residing in Normanton on Trent by 1901.
In 1911, 14 year old Willie was working with his father as a domestic gardener his father John 47 yrs was a domestic gardener, his mother Mary Jane is 46 yrs and they are living with their son Reginald Robert 5 yrs
William enlisted at Nottingham and went to France. He was most likely killed in action in the Battle of Cambrai as he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, where over 7000 servicemen died in November and December 1917, and whose graves are not known.
additional information Peter Gillings
Photo of William James Briggs
Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France