Since starting on my genealogy research pathway, there have been a lot of photos I have come across both old and new. It was very difficult to think about which one would be my favourite (there are a lot of favourites!!). Over the past couple of days, I’ve been scrolling through all the photos and this one kept coming back to me.
I look at this picture quite a bit as it tells a story of one family at a very difficult time – four brothers all coming home from WWI and sitting for a photo in their uniforms. This photo was posted in the local newspaper with a wonderful article that summarizes their WWI story:
Briggs Family Has Fine Record For War Service
NEW WESTMINSTER, May 1 – There was a great reunion at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Briggs, 302 Royal avenue, when the four sons of this pioneer New Westminster Family returned from overseas all physically fit after long months of active service.
Major John A. Briggs, M.D.C.M., went overseas as medical officer with the 48th Victoria Battalion. He was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Pioneers in France, then served with No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance. It was in this unit that he won the Military Cross and his majority. He is seated at the lower right of the picture.
Seated opposite is Capt. Stanley K. Briggs who went overseas with Vancouver’s famous 29th Battalion as a non-commissioned officer and won his commission as lieutenant and later caption, on the battlefield.
Corp. T. A. Briggs, standing behind Major Briggs, enlisted in the 239th Railway Construction Company and saw considerable active service. He returned home some months ago and is a fireman at No. 1 hall.
Corp. Errol C. Briggs, the youngest of the four, was studying electrical engineering at the University of Washington when the United States declared war and he immediately joined the 93rd Aero Squadron. He is now in Portland, Oregon.
All four are native sons of British Columbia. Major Briggs was born in Victoria and the others at the family home on Royal avenue. Mr. Briggs, the father, has ben retired for some years. In earlier days he was a well-known figure in business circles as superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company, which for years operated a line of river and gulf steamers from this city.
http://www.newspapers.com/image/498234647 The Province (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) Wed, Apr 30, 1919, Page 20
The article pretty much sums up where they were and what they did. What it doesn’t tell are the hardships they endured after coming back. As with most stories of war veterans, there are many that we do not hear about. Some I have heard, but there are still more questions than answers.
Corp T. A. Briggs is my great-grandfather. He had a very tough tour during WWI starting in a hospital in England, going onto France, back in a hospital in England and then being sent home medically unfit and discharged February 1919. I have his military records – they tell of his hardships during his time overseas. One day I’ll document all in a blog post (hopefully later this year).
I’m very proud to be part of this family and to carry the Briggs name. There are family members on my mother’s side as well that have joined and served our country with pride and dedication – thank you.
In the meantime, I love this picture for the story it tells but also for the stories it doesn’t tell.
If you have a favourite photo, please share telling us why – I look forward to seeing your photos!
We Are Family Briggs 