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Frederick Charles Riggs

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Allegiance
  
United Kingdom

Role
  
Armed force officer

Rank
  
Sergeant

Battles and wars
  
World War I


Battles/wars
  
World War I

Service/branch
  
British Army

Name
  
Frederick Riggs

Awards
  
Victoria Cross

Frederick Charles Riggs httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumbc

Died
  
October 1, 1918, Epinoy, France

Unit
  
York and Lancaster Regiment

Similar People
  
Henry Horne - 1st Baron Ho, Georg von der Marwitz, Julian Byng - 1st Viscount, Otto von Below, Samuel Harvey

Frederick Charles Riggs (28 July 1888 – 1 October 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Contents

Frederick Charles Riggs Frederick Charles Riggs Wikipedia

Early life

He was born in Springbourne, Bournemouth, and was adopted by Mrs G. Burgum when he was about five years old. He grew up in the Malmesbury Park area of Bournemouth, and was one of two recipients of the Victoria Cross from Capstone Road; the other being Cecil Reginald Noble. A nearby neighbourhood of Bournemouth is named Charminster, and has led to the confused suggestion that Noble lived in the village of Charminster in Dorset.

Details

Riggs was 30 years old, and a Sergeant in the 6th Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment, British Army during the First World War at the battle of the Canal du Nord when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 1 October 1918 near Epinoy, France, Sergeant Riggs, having led his platoon through strong uncut wire under severe fire, continued straight on and although losing heavily from flanking fire, succeeded in reaching his objective, where he captured a machine-gun. Later he handled two captured guns with great effect and caused 50 of the enemy to surrender. Subsequently, when the enemy again advanced in force, Sergeant Riggs cheerfully encouraged his men exhorting them to resist to the last, and while doing so was killed.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The York and Lancaster Regiment Museum contained within the Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England.

References

Frederick Charles Riggs Wikipedia