Portrait of 4151 Private (Pte) David Briggs, 50th Battalion. A farmer from American River, ...

Portrait of 4151 Private (Pte) David Briggs, 50th Battalion. A farmer from American River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 13th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion on 11 January 1916 aboard HMAT Borda (A30) for Suez. In late February 1916 he was transferred to the 50th Battalion which relocated to the Western Front, France, in early June 1916. Pte Briggs was wounded in action near Fleurbaix on 6 July 1916 and was able to rejoin his unit four weeks later. He was wounded in action on a second occasion in mid-August 1916 which resulted in his evacuation to England for treatment and recuperation before rejoining the battalion in late January 1917. Pte Briggs was appointed Lance Corporal (L Cpl) on 17 April 1917. L Cpl Briggs was wounded in action on a third occasion near Messines on 10 June 1917, was treated in Boulogne and rejoined his unit in mid-September 1917. He was promoted to Corporal (Cpl) on 15 November 1917. Cpl Briggs was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux on 25 April 1918 and is buried in the Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He was aged 28 years.