James George Briggs

A Private with the 9th Battalion, James died on 12th of October 1916 at the age of 19. 

James was born at Saint Andrews, Suffolk, in 1896, a son of James and Mary Briggs. In 1901 his family lived at The Street, Rumburgh. By 1911 they were living at wood Farm, Redisham, and James was a stockman on the farm. Later his parents lived at Epsom Terrace, 10 Kirkley Run, Lowestoft. 

James volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in 1915. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 3838. He was posted to the 9th Battalion, in France, and renumbered 43962. James served with the battalion's machine-gun section. 

From 10 October 1916 the 9th Battalion were in front line trenches near Bernafay Wood, on the Somme. The Battalion's War Diary gives no description of what happened on 12 October, but notes that 13 other ranks were killed and 34 wounded. 

James was among those killed in action on 12 October.  

A Lieutenant form his company wrote to his parents:

He was one of my most efficient gunners, and we shall all miss him very much, as he was so cheerful at all times. Please accept my sincere sympathy in your sad loss.' (See Lowestoft Journal 11 November 1916, page 4).