Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Briggs, Army Service Corps, late Sergeant, 1st Dragoons

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, first (CC) and last (LN) clasps both tailor’s copies (3341. Serjt. W. Briggs. 1/Rl: Drgns.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3341 Serjt: W. Briggs. Rl: Dragoons.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut: W. W. Briggs. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. W. W. Briggs.) light contact marks, generally very fine and better (6) £400-£500

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919:
‘For valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in Salonika.’

Warwick Wellington Briggs attested for the 1st Royal Dragoons and served with them in South Africa during the Boer War, being present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the operations on Tugela Heights; the operations in Natal, including the action at Laing’s Nek; and operations in the Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, and the Transvaal. He was commissioned temporary Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on 10 August 1914, and served during the Great War on the Western Front from 5 November 1914, as Adjutant of the 8th Divisional Train, British Expeditionary Force. He subsequently served in Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey, and the Islands of the Ægean Sea from 23 February 1916 to the end of the War, latterly in command of the 22nd Divisional Train in Salonika. For his services during the Great War he was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel, was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 22 June 1915 and 30 January 1919), and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.