Auction Catalogue

2 July 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1125

.

2 July 2003

Hammer Price:
£1,100

A Great War M.C., M.M. group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant H. Briggs, Royal Artillery

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Captain H. Briggs, R.A.’; Military Medal, G.V.R. (676545 Sjt. - A.B.S. Mjr. H. Briggs, 285/Bde. R.F.A. - T.F.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.), the second with re-riveted suspension claw and the last officially re-impressed, generally good very fine (4) £500-600

M.C. London Gazette 8 March 1919: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On 6 October 1918, he went forward to find an observation post. Under heavy machine-gun fire he did a thorough reconnaissance of the whole front line, enabling fire to be brought on enemy strong points. Later, he did excellent work in charge of a working party which was making a crossing over the River Selle, making a most effective crossing under heavy fire.’

M.M.
London Gazette 28 January 1918.

Harry Briggs, who came from Lewes, Sussex, served in France and Flanders on three separate occasions, namely between August and November 1914; September and November 1915, and February 1917 and November 1918. He is also recorded in
Military Services of Officers as having been employed in one, or more of the following theatres between December 1915 and June 1916: Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey and the Islands of the Aegean Sea. Briggs was serving in A/112th Brigade, R.A. at the time of his M.C.-winning exploits in October 1918.