Main CPGW Record
Surname: BRIGGS
Forename(s): William Gilbert
Place of Birth: Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Service No: 265680
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 1/6th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 22
Date of Death: 1918-04-11
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 82 to 85.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: GARGRAVE, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
William Gilbert Briggs was the son of William and Phyllis Rosina Briggs, née Gilbert. William, senior, was born at Sewstern, Leicestershire and Phyllis at Devonport, Devon.
1901 Eshton near Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: Eshton Hall Stables - William G. Briggs, aged 5 years, born Gargrave, Yorkshire, son of William and Phyllis Briggs.
1911 Eshton near Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: Eshton Lodge - William Briggs, aged 15 years, born Melton Mowbray, Lincolnshire [sic], son of William Briggs (married). [The census was filled in by William's daughter, Phyllis.]
William is listed in the Nominal Roll of the 1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment): Pte W. G. Briggs.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte William G. Briggs, 265680, W. Rid. R.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte William Gilbert Briggs, 265680, 1/6 W. Rid. R. K. in A. 11.4.18.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte William Gilbert Briggs, 265680, 1/6th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 11.4.18. Belgium. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - William. £31 1s. 4d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for William. Regimental Number: 2680, Name(s) on card(s): Claimant: Phyllis Briggs. Relationship to Man: Mother. Address: Old Carr Head Farm Cottage, Crosshills, Nr Keighley, Yorks.
William was killed in action during the Battles of the Lys, 9-29 April, at the Battle of Messines, 1918, 10-11 April.
A short biography of William is included in: ‘From Mills to Marching and Back Again – A History of Gargrave from 1900 to 1925’ by Sue Lyall and Donavon Slaven with contributions from George Ingle, Ray Jones and Martin Thompson (2019).
See also: ‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
BRIGGS, Signaller W., aged 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm Briggs, 8, High Street, Skipton, killed in action April 18, 1918.
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Private William Gilbert BRIGGS
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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Tyne Cot Memorial
Courtesy of Allan Hartley, High Bentham
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
26 April 1918
Signaller William Briggs, Skipton
Another Skipton Territorial to lay down his life for the great cause is Signaller William Briggs, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Briggs, of 8 High Street, Skipton. In a letter to the bereaved parents a pal says that Signaller Briggs was in a trench on April 18th with his Sergeant and Corporal when a bomb fell in the midst of them and killed deceased and the Sergeant. Formerly in charge of the electric installation at Eshton Hall, Gargrave, Signaller Briggs, who was 22 years of age, was mobilised with the local Territorials at the outbreak of war, and had been at the Front three years. He was on leave quite recently
Deceased's senior N.C.O. writes:- "He was one of our best men and the loss of so good a signaller will take a long time to replace."
03 May 1918
GARGRAVE - The Late Mr. John Howard
In his sermon last Sunday the Rev. A.C. Blunt very feelingly referred to the death of this gentleman, and to that of the late Mr. Wm. Briggs, of Eshton, killed in the war, and the church bells were muffled all the day.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
26 April 1918
BRIGGS - Killed in action, April 18th, Signaller W. Briggs, of the West Riding Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Briggs, of 8, High Street, Skipton, aged 22.
26 April 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Signaller W. Briggs Killed
Signaller Wm. Briggs, of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Briggs, of 8, High Street, Skipton, was killed in action on April 18th. At the time he was in a trench along with a sergeant and corporal, when a bomb fell between them, killing him and the sergeant. He was 22 years of age, and had been in France about three years. He was formerly employed as an electrical engineer at Eshton Hall. He was only recently home on leave.
03 May 1918
GARGRAVE
THE LATE MR. JOHN HOWARD - In his sermon last Sunday, Rev. A.C. Blunt very feelingly referred to the death of this gentleman, and to that of late Mr. Wm. Briggs, of Eshton, who was killed in the war, and the church bells were muffled all the day.
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