Name
Harry Briars
3 Jul 1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/08/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TF/201212
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
1st/7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 113 to 115
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Letchworth memorials, Cross, Aylesbury, Bucks.
Pre War
Harry Briars was born in 3 Jul 1881(baptised 26 Aug 1881) in Aylesbury to James Briars, bricklayer, and Emily (nee Plater).
On the 1891 Census the family of Parents, James H (born 1873, compositor), Frederick S (born 1875, compositor), Emily H (born 1879, dressmaker), Herbert (born 1880), Harry and Walter Hartford (born 1875, compositor and nephew) were living at 59, New Zealand, Aylesbury, Bucks.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, James H, Frederick S, Emily H, Herbert, Harry and Sidney (born 1897) were living at 59, New Zealand, Aylesbury, Bucks.
Harry married Ada Andrews at St Mary’s Church, Aylesbury.
On 1911 Census Harry, a gold blocker printer, and Ada together with Albert Arthur Chubb (born 1884, a bookbinder) were living at 15, Pix Road, Letchworth. Harry’s parents together with Sidney (paper seller) and Louisa Scott (born 1877, widowed daughter) were living at 163, Buckingham Road, Aylesbury.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Harry who enlisted as a Territorial Soldier, Private 7/3975 (later 201212 on the renumbering of the Territorial Force in 1917) in 1st/7th Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment about Apr/May 1915.
The Battalion were part of 23 Brigade 8 Division but were moved to 56 (1st London) Division (TF) on 5 Feb 1916 and taking part in Battles of the Somme at the Diversionary Action at Gommecourt (1 Jul), Ginchy (9 Sep), Flers-Courcelette ( 15-22 Sep), Morval (25-27 Sep) and Le Transloy (1-18 Oct). In 1917 having moved to the Arras Sector they took part in 1st Battle of the Scarpe (9-14 Apr), 3rd Battle of the Scarpe (3-4 May), before moving to Ypres to take part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) at the Battle of Langemarck (16-17 Aug). In this last action Harry was lilled in action on 16 Aug 1917, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £11 and arrears of £3 11s 10d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
