Description
1914 Star awarded to Gunner Alexander Briggs, 41 Brigade Royal Field Artillery, who fought at Mons and “The affair at Landrecies” (73601 Gnr: A. Briggs. R.F.A.) toned fine.
Gunner Alexander Briggs served with 41 Brigade Royal Field Artillery and landed in France with them on the 16th August 1914.
41 Brigade Royal Field Artillery was originally formed with 9th, 16th and 17th Batteries, and attached to the ²nd Infantry Division. In August 1914 it mobilised and was sent to the Continent with the BEF where it saw service with 2nd Division until the end of the war. The Brigade took part in most of the major actions, including: 1914 – The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, including the Affair of Landrecies, the Rearguard affair of Le Grand Fayt and the Rearguard actions of Villers-Cotterets; The Battle of the Marne; The Battle of the Aisne; First Battle of Ypres 1915 – The Battle of Festubert; The Battle of Loos 1916 – The Battle of Delville Wood; The Battle of the Ancre. After the end of the Battle of the Somme in December 1916, the artillery was reorganised, and often deployed to support different Divisions depending on need. For example, for the Battle of Vimy Ridge (9 to 12 April 1917), part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, 2nd Divisional Artillery, including 41st Brigade, operated in support of 4th Canadian Division, which was responsible for the northern portion of the advance which included the capture of the highest point of the ridge followed by the heavily defended knoll known as “the Pimple” just north of the town of Givenchy-en-Gohell.
Sold with copy Medal Card.
