Background
Born the son of Colonel Charles James Briggs Justice of the Peace Doctor of Laws, Brigg"s education took place largely abroad, including periods in France and Germany.
army officer colonel commander chief
Born the son of Colonel Charles James Briggs Justice of the Peace Doctor of Laws, Brigg"s education took place largely abroad, including periods in France and Germany.
He was commissioned into the 1st King"s Dragoon Guards on 30 January 1886 and served as Aide-de-Camp to the General Officer Commanding Egypt from 1892 to 1893. He became Adjutant of the 1st Dragoon Guards in November 1894 and Brigade Adjutant of 4th Cavalry Brigade in April 1897. He served in the Second Boer War as Brigade Major of 3rd Cavalry Brigade and was wounded at the Battle of Magersfontein.
He went on to command 1st Imperial Light Horse and then the Mobile Column before transferring to the 6th Dragoons in July 1904.
He was appointed Commander of the Transvaal Volunteers in 1905 and took part in suppressing the Bambatha Rebellion in 1906. He was appointed Commander of the South Eastern Mounted Brigade in 1910 and commanded the Blue cavalry in the Army Manoeuvres of 1912.
He served in World War I initially as Commander of 1st Cavalry Brigade in the British Expeditionary Force where he took part in the action at Nery. He commanded 3rd Cavalry Division from May 1915, the 28th Division in Salonika from October 1915 and XVI Corps (later redesignated as the British Salonika Army) from May 1916.
He was Chief of the British Military Mission to South Russia from February to June 1919 before retiring in February 1923.
In retirement he was Colonel of the King"s Dragoon Guards from 16 March 1926 to 31 December 1939.