Sheila Spencer

Heroism and tragedy – not what I expected to uncover when I happened to look through the church visitor book in St. Johns Church, Silverdale, and noticed an entry referring to the war memorial to Maurice Briggs (situated on the wall of the North nave) made by a Raymond Haffner, who had written how he had known Maurice Briggs as a boy in Cliviger in Holme, and explained that he had been best man to his brother George. He invited contact should anyone want to find out more about him.

My interest was captured! I had seen the memorial and often wondered who Maurice Briggs was and how he came to be killed in Canada two days after VE day. This was the spur that I needed and I discovered that not only Maurice, but also his older brother Gilbert had both died tragically in air accidents, one before the start of the war and one at the very end. Maurice Briggs was born in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, on 6th May 1920, and his brother, Henry Gilbert Stewart Briggs in 1916. Whilst their father was headmaster at Todmorden Grammar School, the two brothers attended school in Burnley.

In the 1920’s the family moved to Cliviger in Holme, and then in 1936 to Silverdale, taking up residence at ‘Glenroyd’ on Cove Road, now the home of the Bodenham family, but at that time owned by Richard George Lambert. Maurice and Gilbert owned a dark green Bentley car at the time, which some of the older Silverdale residents may well remember.

Maurice Briggs driving the family’s green Bentley

The brothers joined the RAF before the start of the war. Tragically on 9th January 1939, at the age of 22, Gilbert Briggs who was training to be a navigator and based at Prestwick, was killed along with his three fellow crew members whilst engaged in a Cross Country Navigation Exercise, when their Avro Anson plane crashed into the Coserine mountain at Rhinns of Kells, 9 miles West of Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire. The weather at the time was very poor with freezing temperatures. He was given a military funeral and is buried in Silverdale churchyard.

Maurice, who had joined the RAF in 1937 at the age of 17, was at the start of hostilities in 1939, posted to 77 Squadron as an air gunner/observer based at Driffield. He completed his first tour with distinction and in September 1940 was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal to recognise his valour, courage and devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. In November 1941 he received his commission and in October 1942 he was promoted to Flying Officer. In April 1942 he began initial pilot training at Torquay, which he completed in Calgary, Canada and was awarded his pilot wings on 2nd April 1943.

In April 1943 the 1409 Meteorological Flight (part of the Pathfinder Unit) had been formed and equipped with DeHavilland Mosquito aircraft which were unarmed, light and amazingly fast. The primary function of 1409 Met Flight was to ascertain weather conditions, the consequences of which could mean cancellation of an operation for the whole scheduled bomber force. Prior to this many aircrews had been killed by bad weather, icing of the plane being particularly dangerous. The pilots and navigators of this new unit were all specially selected and described as ‘young in years but old in flying experience’.

They together with their aircraft stood ready to take off at a moment’s notice, flying when other aircraft of Bomber Command were grounded due to the weather conditions. They faced extreme danger, not only from the weather but also having to proceed alone, deep into enemy territory, in unarmed aircraft, often in broad daylight with no cloud cover.

In November 1943 on his return to England, Maurice was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and posted to this unit, completing well over a hundred sorties, most of them with a John Custance Baker, his navigator. In an official report the two men were described as a perfect team, whose flights were often eventful and dangerous, and who delivered factual and accurate reports. On one occasion for example, in January 1944, Maurice had to ditch their plane in the Channel after they had flown through flak over the Ruhr, had a fire in the cockpit – and finally an engine failure.

It was in this period that Maurice earned the DFC and DSO – the Distinguished Flying Cross in October 1944 for great determination and exceptional meteorological ability in bringing back accurate data, and the Distinguished Service Order in March 1945. In the official citation it stated, ‘that he had never allowed the heaviest enemy opposition or adverse weather deter him from completing his allotted task and in consequence of his undoubted courage and determination he invariably obtained excellent results. His reliability and devotion to duty have been of the utmost value to his unit.’

Maurice flew his last sortie of the war in December 1944, and over the next few months, together with John Baker, made several trips to Canada to transport Mosquitos from the De Havilland plant in Ontario to England. At the beginning of May 1945 on account of their excellent team work the two men were selected to take a Mosquito to Canada as part of the Victory War Bond Drive. The plane known as F for Freddie was famous in its own right, having flown at least 213 combat operations, which was the highest record for any Allied bomber in WWII. They arrived in Calgary on 9th May, three days after Maurice had celebrated his 25th birthday, and the day after VE day. Hundreds turned out to greet their arrival and were thrilled by a spectacular air display put on by Maurice in a celebration to mark the end of the European war. The crowds flocked to the airport to see the famous plane and meet its crew, many taking the opportunity to buy a bond and chalk their name on the plane.

Unbelievably and tragically 24 hours later Maurice Briggs and John Baker would be dead, and the remains of F for Freddie scattered across the aerodrome.

The following day at 4pm, scheduled to fly the plane to other air bases, Maurice taxied the plane down the runway. Before departing he once again put on a display for the benefit of the spectators who had gathered, making two successful low level passes over the airfield. Tragically on a final daring pass the wing of his aircraft clipped a metal pole above the control tower causing it to crash in a field a third of a mile from the terminal building, where it exploded into flames. The two men, although thrown clear from the wreckage were both killed instantly.

Two days later, Maurice Briggs and John Baker, escorted by an honour guard of 100 airmen, their coffins draped with the union jack and adorned simply with their hats and a single rose, passed through streets lined with hundreds of shocked and saddened mourners, on their way from a church which had been filled to overflowing to the cemetery. After a full military funeral they were buried side by side, in the Field of Honour in Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary.

The funeral procession marching through the streets of Calgary. The shock at the tragic circumstances of their deaths was felt by many. One of their old commanders wrote how their deaths had upset him more than any that he had come across in the war. The Lancaster Guardian reported how the death of Maurice ‘had cast a gloom over Silverdale’, and The Globe and Mail newspaper of Toronto -‘that a deep sense of personal loss was felt by thousands. These two young men were all we always thought the ideal fliers should be, modest and pleasant. They were the pride of a proud command.  Maurice Briggs had flown the amazing number of 145 flights and John Baker 115. It was men like Maurice Briggs and John Baker who helped to save the worlds freedom.’

We should also spare a thought for Mrs Margaret Stewart Briggs who, having been widowed shortly after the tragic death of her eldest son, must have believed with the greatest of relief that her remaining son had managed to survive the war. We cannot begin to imagine her grief and devastation upon receiving the tragic news of Maurice’s death coming so soon after VE day. Mrs Briggs continued to live alone at Glenroyd. In 1947 the house was converted into two flats, with Mrs Briggs living on the top floor and Richard Lambert and his family living on the ground floor. In 1959 she moved into Maryland care home in the village, and died in Lancaster Royal Infirmary on 1st October 1959.

More information about the tragic accident alongside other photographs of Maurice Briggs and his co pilots.

First published in Mourholme Magazine Issue 75 Spring 2019

ALLINSON John Died 16 October 1918 Age 21 Buried St Aubert British Cemetery V.B.2 France

ALLINSON John Service Record

Lance Corporal 43724 North Staffordshire Regiment 1st Battalion.

Son of John Thomas and Esther Allinson of The Grove Silverdale. Killed in action near Cambrai

AMBROSE Henry (Harry) Died 18 July 1916 Age 29 Remembered Thiepval Memorial Pier and face 5D France

AMBROSE Henry Service Record

Private 20449 King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 8th Battalion.

Killed in action at Longueval during the Battle of the Somme

Son of Mrs Eliza Ambrose 10 Garmoyle Road, Liverpool

BELL George Arthur Died 31 July 1917 Age Buried Tyne Cot Cemetery XLV111 Belgium

Photograph of his grave

BELL George Arthur Service Record

Private 202884 Manchester Regiment 18th Battalion

BENJAMIN William

Died between 24 and 30 Sept 1916 Age 34 Remembered Vimy Memorial France

BENJAMIN William Service Record

Lance Corporal 446589 Canadian Infrantry (Alberta Regiment) 31st Battalion A Company

Son of John and Annie Benjamin of Millhead, Carnforth and husband of Edith Benjamin of Exshaw Alberta

BOLTON James Richard Died 10 Oct 1918 Age 18 Buried Silverdale St John Old Churchyard Extension B18

BOLTON James Richard Service Record

Private 106456 King’s Liverpool Regiment 53rd (Graduated) Battalion Died of pneumonia in camp at Conway in North Wales

He was born in Pansy Cottage, Silverdale in July 1900. Eldest son of Richard James and May Bolton of Croftlands, Silverdale. James helped to build Croftlands.

BOLTON William Henry (Harry) Died 17 Apr 1918 Age 33 Remembered Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial

BOLTON William Henry Service Record

Private 12/3558 Auckland Regiment 2nd Battalion New Zealand

William was born on 7 February 1888 in Townsfield, Silverdale. He served his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Beetham, Cumbria. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1910 and married Catherine Forsman in 1910.

He volunteered in 1915 and fought at the Somme, Messins Ridge and Passchendale. He came back to Silverdale on leave in July 1917 and was killed the following year in France.

Son of Richard Bolton of Silverdale and Emma Bolton of England and husband of Catharine Bolton of 1 Servia St, Newton, New Zealand.

BRAITHWAITE John Died 11 Oct 1917 Age 24 Buried Medinghem Military Cemetery VI E 10 Belgium

BRAITHWAITE John Service Record

Private S/3679 Seaforth Highlands 7th Battalion

Died of wounds at a casualty clearing station.

BRIGGS John Maurice Winnington

Died 10 May 1945 Age 35

Buried Calgary Canada Photograph of his grave

BRIGGS John Maurice Winnington Service Record

Flight Lieutenant 47438 Royal Air Force Pathfinder Unit

In January 1938 he joined the RAF at the age of 17, his older brother Gilbert also joined the RAF and was sadly killed before the start of the war.

September 1940 awarded Distinguished Flying Medal November 1941 Received Commission October 1942 Promoted to Flying Officer April 1943 Awarded pilot wings in Calgary, Canada November 1943 Promoted to Flying Lieutenant and posted to 1409 Meteorological Unit (Pathfinder Unit) October 1944 Awarded Distinguished Service Order May 1945 Killed in an air accident at Calgary Canada.

He had successfully flew 145 sorties into enemy territory during his RAF career.

For more details, Sheila Spencer has written an article for the Mourholme Magazine,

He was the son of John T. Briggs and Margaret Stewart Briggs of Silverdale

CHAMPION Eric Osborne Died 11 June 1917 Age 21 Buried Bedford House Cemetery Enc II Belgium

Photograph of Eric and his grave

CHAMPION Eric Osborne Service Record

Second Lieutenant South Lancashire Regiment 11th Battalion C Company

He entered Rugby School in 1910 and was Head of his house when he left at the end of 1914. He also received his commission that year. After training in a Pioneer Battalion, he went to the Front in October 1915.

Eric took part in the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 and again in October. He later spent three months in England suffering from a heart ailment. He returned to France in April 1917. He was killed by a high explosive shell while returning to billets with other soldiers during the Bombardment of the Third Battle of Ypres near Menin.

Son of the late Francis Coverley and Amelia Charles Champion

CLARK Thomas Postlethwaite Died 3 September 1916 Age 35 Remembered Thiepval Memorial Pier and face 4A and 4D

CLARK Thomas Postlethwaite Service Record

Private 20564 King’s Own Scottish Borders Regiment 2nd Battalion.

Killed in action at Delville Wood during the Battle of the Somme

Son of the late William Clark of 21 Fell Croft Dalton in Furness and husband of Frances Clark of 9 Rock Villas Silverdale

CORNTHWAITE John Died 7 July 1918 Age 27 Buried Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France

CORNTHWAITE John Service Record

Gunner 190432 Royal Field Artillery 92nd Brigade ‘B’ Battery. Died of wounds at casuality clearing station near Arras.

Son of George and Susan Cornthwaite of Belle Vista, Silverdale, native of Cark in Cartmel.

DOBSON Ingram Died 12 Dec 1915 Age Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension IEI France

Photograph of Memorial

DOBSON Ingram Service Record

Private 80021 Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) 31st Battalion

Died of wounds, accidentally shot in the thigh at Locre by a fellow soldier cleaning his rifle. There is a reference that a Court of Inquiry filed in an envelope dated 26 January 1916.

Ingram Dobson’s army registration record states the following: Born in Milnthorpe, Westmorland on 19 March 1890. Next of kin Mrs A Woof, Exshaw, Calgary, Canada. He also served in the 5th Battalion of Kings Own Territorial Regiment, [Editor assumed to be Lancashire] signed Dec 14th 1914. The next of kin address is amended from Calgary to 3 Northern Terrace, Silverdale. Letter dated 5 February 1916. Unit sailed May 17 1915 on SS Northland to England.

Calgary Herald published 22 December 1915

To a large circle of friends in Calgary, and especially at Exshaw, the news contained in the official casualty list this morning that Pte. Ingram Dobson had died of wounds at the front will be received with the deepest regret.

He was exceptionally well known in Calgary and district and for four years was employed by the Canada Cement company at Exshaw. When war was declared he immediately threw up his position with this company and joined the 31st battalion. According to a telegram that the company have received he was severely wounded in the thigh and died from the effects of his injuries at the No. 2 Canadian hospital, France.

He was a native of Silverdale, Lancashire England, and during the whole time he was in the west had been employed by the Canada Cement Company. His name came in great prominence at the time of the Exshaw murder case, as he single-handed, captured Manelik, one of the thugs.

His cheery, bright disposition won for him hosts of friends who will sincerely mourn his loss.

More information about the murder at Exshaw Canadian Great War Project

The 1891 census shows that Ingram Dobson was living at Back Lane, Silverdale, Lancashire with his parents William Dobson who was a rural post messenger and his mother Annie.

The 1901 census shows that Ingram Dobson aged 11, stepson was living at Burrows Yard with John Woof limestone quarryman aged 40, Ann Woof aged 38, along with his siblings Winifred Dobson aged 9 and Edith A Woof aged 1.

The 1911 census shows he is still living with his step father and his mother, aged 21 and is employed as a lime packer. The siblings living at the address with Edith Annie Woof aged 11, Charles Robert Woof aged 9 and Jack Woof aged 4.

EDMONDSON Frederick Died 6 Jun 1916 Age 20 Buried Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery C23 Belgium

Photograph of his grave

EDMONDSON Frederick Service Record

Corporal Z/806 Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) 12th Battalion

Son of Richard and Mary Hannah Edmondson of Glenside Nursery, Silverdale.

EDMONDSON Tyson Died 28 Mar 1918 Age 26 Buried Englebelmer France

Photograph of Tyson.

EDMONDSON Tyson Service Record

Private 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand. Died of wounds.

Son of James and Hannah Edmondson of Silverdale Lancashire

FARRAR Lucien Died 13 Jan 1918 Age 21 Buried Cologne Southern Cemetery Germany

Photograph of his grave

FARRAR Lucien Service Record

Private 19005 Loyal North Lancaster Regiment 1st/4th Battalion.

Died as a prisoner of war in Germany of wounds received near Epeby

Son of William and Ellenor of Challon Hall Cottages, Silverdale

The 1901 census shows he was living at 1 Westview Cottages with his parents William and Ellenor and his siblings John W aged 12, Annie E aged 10, George aged 8, Sarah aged 6, and he was the youngest aged 4.

GRAHAM Thomas Abba Died 9 February 1917 Age 29 Remembered at Basra Memorial Iraq Panel 7

GRAHAM Thomas Abba Service Record

Private 22193 Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 6th Battalion. Killed in action at Kut al Amara Mesopotamia (now Iraq).

Son of Albert C and Mary Graham of Ye Neste, Silverdale, Lancashire

HAYTON John Died 24 October 1916 Age 34 Buried Etaples Military Cemetery France

HAYTON John Service Record

Private 446784 Canadian Infantry 50th Battalion (Alberta Regiment)

Son of James and Agnes Hayton of Silverdale

Born 20 December 1882 in Silverdale. He signed up to the Canadian Infantry on May 11 1915 and showed his next of kin as Miss A.M. Hayton of Main Road Halton, Lancashire

HAYTON John William Died 26 February 1917 Age 21 Remembered Thieval France Pier 4A

HAYTON John William Service Record

Private 55752 Royal Welsh Fusiliers 1st Battalion

Son of William and Margaret A Hayton of the Row, Silverdale, Lancashire.

Killed in action by shellfire near Serre in the Somme battlefield

HEBDEN Reginald Robert Hope Died 9 April 1917 Age 28 Remembered Vimy Memorial France

HEBDEN Reginald Robert Hope Service Record

Private 147476 Canadian Infantry 78th Battalion (Manitoba Regiment), he previously served in the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers Militia. He signed up for the army on 3 July 1915 at Manitoba.

Reginald was born on 11 December 1887 at Silverdale and at the time of his death it shows he was the son of the late Silvester and Emma Latimer Hebden. His occupation was shown as farmer

1891 Census shows Reginald (aged 3) was living at Sunnyside with his parents Silvester (aged 43) retired master cotton spinner, Emma Latimer Hebden (aged 43) and his siblings John (aged 16) Emma (aged 13) Silvester (aged 10) Gladys (aged 8). They also had a servant Elizabeth Hunter (aged 47).

The 1901 census shows he is still living in Sunnyside with his parents and his two sisters Emma and Gladys along with his grandma Jane Hope widowed (aged 80).

The probate for Reginald shows of Sunnyside, Silverdale His will left £698 7 shillings and 3d to Maud Hebden spinster.

HEWITSON Kenneth Died 22 September 1943 Age 21 Buried Hanover War Cemetery

Photograph of his grave

HEWITSON Kenneth Service Record

Flight Sergeant 1266114 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 218 Squadron

Shot down over Neustadt-am-Rubenberge while on a bombing raid on Germany

Son of Richard and Emma Hewitson of Silverdale

HODGSON Martin Died 16 January 1917 Age 19 Buried Tancrez Farm Cemetery Belgium

Photograph of his grave

HODGSON Martin Service Record

Private 49402 Cheshire Regiment 10th Battalion

Son of Thomas and Sarah Ann and has a sibling Arthur,

1901 Census shows that he and his father were born in Silverdale. Sarah was born in Wigan and the family by the 1901 census had moved to Cheadle in Cheshire. His father’s ocupation was coachman domestic. By 1911 the family had increased to include Jessie and Ernest. Arthur is not recorded on the 1911 census. His father’s occupation was now club steward.

HOLDEN Thomas Henry Died 4 August 1917 Age 24 Remembered Ypres Memorial Gate Panel 43

HOLDEN Thomas Henry Service Record

Private 28009 Loyal North Lancaster Regiment 8th Battalion.

Killed in action on the Westhoek Ridge during the 3rd Battle of Ypres

Son of Robert and Sarah Holden of 2 Station Cottages Silverdale.

HORN Jonathan Died 14 January 1918 Age 31 Buried Oxford Road Cemetery V K 12 Belgium

Photograph of his grave

HORN Jonathan Service Record

Rifleman B/200918 Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) 2nd Battalion

Killed in action near Wieltje in Ypres

Son of Jonathan and Margaret Horn of Low Finley, Warcop, Penrith Also on the headstone in Warcop

KEEN George William Died 16 August 1915 Age 25 Buried Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery Belgium

Photograph of his grave

KEEN George William Service Record

Private 1950 King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment 1st/5th Battalion.

Only son of Townson and Emma Keen of Silverdale, Lancashire