The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Briggs
First Name:
John Arthur
Rank:
Lance Sergeant
Regimental #:
WX5050
Classification:
Driver
Company:
Headquarters Company, No 3 Platoon
Enlisted:
23.07.1940
DOB:
22.08.1914
Place of Birth:
North Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Frederick George Briggs
Mothers's Name:
Edith Briggs
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Motor Mechanic
Memorial:
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A8, Row B, Grave 20, Age 29.
Singapore:
Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion
Camps Burma:
Vicrtoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw, Aungganaung, Khonkan
POW#:
2723
Cause of Death:
Post Leg Amputation
Place of Death:
Khonkan 55km Hospital Camp
Date of Death:
11.09.1943
Buried:
Grave No. 136, Khonkan

General Description

John Briggs enlisted AIF July 1940 and joined 2/4th MGB’s Headquarters Coy No. 3 Platoon as one of four Corporals to CO Capt Phelps and Lt O’Sullivan.
Briggs was evacuated to Khonkan 55km Camp from Aungganaung 105km Camp with a tropical ulcer to his ankle.
Following amputation he died 11 September 1943 aged 29 years.
Another 2/4th boy died of his amputation the same day at Khonkan Camp, was WX7504 Bruce Chapman.  Khonkan 55km camp was headed up by Dr. Albert  Coates and he was the doctor who performed most of the amputations.
Read further about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion

Above:  Thanbyuzyat CWC, Myanmar, previously Burma.
Records show John Briggs married in 1940 Petersham, NSW to Annie Miller Murray Ferguson.
His younger brother Roy Albert Briggs enlisted on 6 August 1940 just a few months before John enlisted.
Edith Briggs is obviously not the mother of John and Roy Briggs.     Edith Hill and Frederick Briggs married in 1939 and divorced in 1944.     Their father Frederick George Briggs died in Perth Oct 1961 aged 82 years.

 

 

However, we unfortunately know little else about his life.
We believe his wife Annie Miller Murray Briggs moved to reside Rozelle, NSW.  She remarried about 1945.
John’s younger brother Roy Briggs WX7329  who was in ‘B’ Company.  Roy Briggs was with ‘D’ Force S Battalion and was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Khonkan, 55Kilo Hospital 360k - Burma
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
  • Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
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