Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Signalman R. Briggs, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (220635 R. Briggs. L.Sig. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (220635 R. Briggs. L.Sig. R.N.); Russia, Empire, Medal for Zeal, Nicholas II, small silver medal (R. Briggs. Signalman, HMS Inflexible-1909) generally nearly very fine (4) £240-£280

Robert Briggs was born on 28 August 1886 in Gosport, Hampshire and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 1 July 1903. By October 1908, he was serving as a Signaller aboard H.M.S. Inflexible and it was whilst with this ship he was awarded the Russian Medal for Zeal; his service papers call it the ‘Russian Silver Medal of St Stanislas’ and was awarded during the Czar’s visit of August 1909. By the outbreak of the Great War, Briggs had been advanced to Leading Seaman and was serving aboard H.M.S. Hazard. He served aboard numerous ships and shore establishments throughout the War and was finally discharged on 31 March 1919.