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Charles James Briggs was born on 22 Oct 1865. He was the son of Colonel C J Briggs of Hylton Castle, Durham. His private education took place in France and Germany and he entered RMA Sandhurst as an officer cadet. He had a long and distinguished military career fighting in the Boer War and World War 1. After recovering from injuries sustained at Magersfontein he took part in the Relief of Kimberley. Then he was at Cronje’s surrender at Paardeberg, and the advance to Pretoria, including actions at Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Karee Siding and Zand River. He also took part in the Battle of Diamond Hill.
in 1905 he returned to South Africa with the Transvaal Volunteers a unit involved in the suppression of the Natal Native Rebellion of 1906. In WW1 he fought at Néry with the BEF when he managed to hold off the attack of the German 4th Cavalry Division until other troops arrived to assist him. He provided distinctive service at the battle of the Aisne, Chavonne, and Messines in the First battle of Ypres. In 1915, as commander of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade he led them at Frezenberg Ridge. They also fought at Hooge in June, and Loos in September. In Oct 1915 he went to Egypt with the 28th Division, then on to Salonika. There he was put in command of XVI Corps which he commanded until the end of the war. He was married in 1921, to Rosamund Daphne Ryder and they had a daughter. They lived at the Manor House, Wickhambrook. Sir Charles Briggs died on 27 November 1941.
1886 Lieutenant in KDG. 30 Jan |
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