Person

Harold Douglas Briggs was born into a wealthy family whose home was Hylton Castle in Sunderland. He was born on 29 September 1877 and was the fourth and final son and eighth child of eleven in the family. His father was Colonel Charles James Briggs (1835-1900), a timber merchant, landowner, farmer and magistrate. His mother was Sarah Ann Douglas (1837-1931), a ship owner’s daughter from London.

Harold is recorded living with his family and a number of servants in Hylton Castle at both the 1881 and 1891 censuses. He then began to make a career as an officer in the Royal Navy, entering as a naval cadet in 1892. He worked his way steadily up the ranks becoming a midshipman in 1894, a sub-lieutenant in 1898 and a lieutenant in 1899. He was appointed Executive Officer of the battleship HMS Bellerophon in 1910.

Harold married Mabel Thompson (1876-) in Whitburn in 1902. She was a Sunderland shipbuilder’s daughter. Their first child, Iris Constance Briggs, was born in 1908 in Kensington, London, followed three years later by a son, Ronald Walter Briggs, who was born in Havant, Hampshire. Harold was aboard HMS Devonshire, an armoured cruiser at the time of the 1911 census. His wife and daughter were living at Woodlands, Southleigh, Havant, Hampshire, where his son was born later in the year. Harold reached the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy on 31 December 1911.

At some point Harold’s developing career led him towards the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). In 1915 he was appointed Officer in Command of Air Stations under the Admiral Commanding the East Coast of England. Later that year, he joined the staff of the Inspecting Captain of Air Training, becoming a Wing Captain in November 1915. He subsequently became the Inspecting Captain of Air Training. He trained as a pilot and obtained his Royal Aero Club aviator’s certificate on 26 November 1915 at the Central Flying School, Upavon, Wiltshire. He obtained his certificate flying a Maurice Farman biplane.

Harold was appointed Officer Commanding RNAS Vendome, a flying training school in France. In preparation for the RNAS becoming part of the RAF, in 1918, he was assigned the RAF rank of Brigadier-General (temporary) when he joined the Air Ministry. When the RAF came into being on 1 April 1918 his rank was confirmed and he was appointed General Officer Commanding RAF Cranwell and No 12 Group. In 1919 he returned to the Royal Navy as a Captain where he commanded HMS St Vincent, HMS Courageous and HMS Resolution before retiring from active service in 1922.

As a British serviceman of the First World War Harold was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. He was made Companion of the Most Distinguished Order Of St Michael and St George (CMG) in recognition of “distinguished services rendered during the war”. He was also made Officer of the Legion of Honour (France) and awarded the Order of the Rising Sun 3rd class (Japan).

Harold Douglas Briggs died in Cleveland Nursing Home, Paddington, London on 13 September 1944. His probate record shows that a joint executor was his son who was at that time a Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

Civil Parish: Hylton

Birth date: 29-Sep-1877

Death date: 13-Sep-1944

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: Hylton Castle, Sunderland (1881 & 1891 census)
HMS Devonshire (1911 census)
Hill House, Feltwell, Norfolk (1944 probate record)

Employment: Officer in the Royal Navy, 1892-1922

Family: Parents: Colonel Charles James Briggs (1935-1900), Sarah Ann Briggs nee Douglas (1837-1931)
Siblings: Ada Mary Briggs (1862), Annie Douglas Briggs (1863), Douglas Hilton Briggs (1864), Charles James Briggs (1865), William H Briggs (1872), Norah Naomi Briggs (1874), Kathleen Constance May Briggs (1876), Sybil Aline Briggs (1880), Hylda A Briggs (1882)
Spouse: Blanche Mabel Briggs nee Thompson (1876)
Children: Iris Constance Briggs (1908), Ronald Walter Briggs (1911)

Military service:

Naval Cadet (1892)
Midshipman (1894)
Sub-lieutenant (1898)
Lieutenant (1899)
Commander (1911)
Wing Captain, RNAS, 1915
Captain, 1917
Colonel, RAF, 1918
Brigadier-General, RAF 1919
Captain, HMS St Vincent , 1919
Captain, HMS Courageous, 1919-20
Captain, HMS Resolution, 1920-21
Retired from active service, 1922

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)
Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class (Japan)

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham