ORRIEL BRIGGS

RANK: Captain.

REGIMENT: 8th Bn.Somerset Light Infantry.

BORN:

ENLISTED: September 1914 Leeds.

GAVE HIS LIFE: 04/11/1918.

AGED: 30.

CEMETERY: Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension.
Romeries is a village approximately 16 km south of Valenciennes and 4 km north-east of Solemes Belgium.

GRAVE /PANEL : V. C. 2.

LEEDS MODERN: 1901-1903.

Orriel was the son of Charles William a commercial traveller Born in Leeds 1862 and Sophia Cox Born Leeds 1864 who married at Leeds in 1887.

At the outbreak of war Orriel enlisted into the 15th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment the Leeds Pals at Leeds Town Hall, and in the October was commisioned as 2nd Lieutenent.

Orriel went to France in 1915 and was wounded in the December of that year.

On recovering he became adjutant at a training camp at Ripon, and in December 1917 was again sent to France where he was transferred to the 8th Bn Somerset Light Infantry, and was promoted to Captain and Adjutant.

Orriel lost his life leading his men into action on the 4th November 1918.

It was reported at the time that :

"Captain Briggs was greatley beloved and admired both by his men and fellow officers."

The CWGC shows the following details.


"Son of Charles William and Sophia Briggs, of Leeds; husband of Edith M. Briggs, of Morton House, 57, Regent Rd., Great Yarmouth."