238478 Pte. William Briggs British Army 9th (West Belfast) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles from:Elizabeth Street, Belfast William Briggs, was the brother of my Grandfather John (Stoker RN,) both resided at 13 Elizabeth Street, Grosvenor Road, Belfast.
William joined the 9th Royal Irish Rifles on the 21st of October 1914 at the age of 21.5 yrs. He remained at home training at various locations both in Ireland and England until the 1st of October 1915 before deploying to France.
His war time service was up until the 7th of March 1916 when he was returned home to convalesce at the Bangour War Hospital, Edinburgh after losing his index finger and thumb on his right hand as a result of a detonator. He returned to Ireland on light duties until his honorable discharge as unfit for war service on the 25th of July 1916.
He later married and lived off the Donegal Road, Belfast, but both a son and wife died early. William lived until 1968 passing at the age of 75yrs.
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