Harold Rawdon Briggs
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Sir Rawdon Briggs KCIE
KBE
CB
DSO
and two bars
(1894–1952) was an officer in the British Indian Army
during World War I
, World War II
and the post-war era.
Field Marshal Viscount William Slim said of him
he was a U.S. citizen until receiving British naturalisation papers in 1914 and became a cadet at the Royal Military College
Sandhurst. In 1915, after an initial appointment to the Indian Army was cancelled, he was commissioned into the King's Regiment (Liverpool) and fought with the regiment in France. In 1916 he transferred to the British Indian Army
joining the 31st Punjabis (which in 1922 became the 2nd battalion 16th Punjab Regiment
), fighting in Mesopotamia and later in Palestine
. In September 1917 he was appointed to command one of the 31st Punjabi's companies in the rank of acting captain, and was attached to the 152nd Punjabis in May 1918 in the same role.
In 1924 he transferred to the 1st battalion 10th Baluch Regiment
with whom he saw two periods of action in the North West Frontier of India in the 1930s. He was promoted to major in August 1932 (having been made a brevet-major in January) and then lieutenant colonel in September 1937 when given command of the 2nd Battalion 10th Baluch Regiment (now 7th Battalion The Baloch Regiment
).
. The brigade was not involved in the fighting during Operation Compass
but in December 1940 was detached from the division and sent to Port Sudan near the border with northern Eritrea
while the rest of the division (plus one battalion of 7th Brigade) was sent to join Indian 5th Infantry Division on Eritrea's western border with Sudan.
, Briggs commanded Briggsforce - a brigade group composed of two battalions from the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade, one Senegalese battalion officered by Free French officers and a French Foreign Legion
battalion from Chad
together with a battery of field artillery and a company of engineers. Operating independently from the main force, Briggsforce advanced from Sudan and, under the direct orders of Lieutenant-General William Platt
, entered Eritrea
from the north through the border town of Karora
. The force then continued southwards and fought its way to the defences of Keren
.
During the Battle of Keren
in March 1941, Briggsforce drew off a significant part of the Italian garrison of Keren even though it lacked the artillery for a major offensive action itself. The attacks by Briggsforce aided Platt's main offensive from the west. Briggs also posed a threat to Massawa
, Eritrea's main port, on the coast to the east. This obliged the Italians to maintain reserves on the coast which could have been better employed at Keren.
Following Keren's capture Briggsforce cut across country to play a significant role in the capture of Massawa on 9 April.
For his action in East Africa Briggs was awarded his first DSO
on 30 December 1941.
in June but in August was detached once again as the Oasis Group to hold the Siwa and Jarabub Oases, some 150 miles (241.4 km) south of the Mediterranean coast on each side of the Egypt - Libya border.
Handing over the Oases responsibilities to Indian 29th Infantry Brigade, 7th brigade took part next in Operation Crusader
in November 1941 when Briggs was given the task of taking the Omars, three fortress strongholds some 20 miles (32.2 km) from the coast and forming part of the Axis defenses on the Libyan border. Omar Nuovo was taken on 21 November, the first day of fighting, but it took a week to clear Libyan Omar completely. The third fortress held firm. When Rommel's Afrika Korps
heavily defeated the British armour at Sidi Rezegh he made his "dash for the wire" to destroy Eighth Army's rear echelons. On 25 November the Axis armour reached 7th Infantry Brigade dug into its newly captured positions and was severely mauled by the divisional artillery and forced to withdraw to the main Axis positions around Tobruk
.
Briggs's brigade took part in Eighth Army's advance to and through the Axis defensive line at Gazala, ending the year at Benghazi
. When Rommel counterattacked in late January from his position at El Agheila
Briggs found his brigade, still at Benghazi, threatened with being cut off. Dispersing into battalion groups the brigade made its way south across the Axis rear lines into the desert and then turned eastwards to reach Mechili
, still in British hands, with almost no losses. For his leadership during this period Briggs was awarded a second DSO.
As the front line stabilised at the Gazala line 7th Indian Brigade was sent to Cyprus
as one of the units relieving Indian 5th Infantry Division which had organised its defenses. However, in May 1942 Briggs was promoted to command Indian 5th Infantry Division which had been placed in reserve behind the Eighth Army's Gazala position. At this time Briggs still only had the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel, although he was promoted to full colonel in September 1942 with seniority backdated to September 1940.
During the Battle of Gazala
in June Briggs narrowly avoided capture when his tactical HQ was overrun. His division took heavy casualties in the unsuccessful Operation Anchor and was forced to withdraw from Knightsbridge and El Adem to Sollum on the Egypt - Libyan border to reform. The division was at Mersa Matruh involved in the delaying action as Eighth Army withdrew to El Alamein
and again was severely mauled. The division's 29th Infantry Brigade was overrun and destroyed at Fuka, east of Mersa Matruh, but the two remaining depleted brigades were able to make it back to Alamein.
At Alamein the division was reinforced with 161 Indian Infantry Brigade and took part in various engagements in July around the Ruweisat Ridge, part of the First Battle of El Alamein
.
During the Battle of Alam el Halfa in late August and early September the division was engaged on the Ruweisat Ridge but saw only relatively light action as the main Axis attack developed to the south. Briggs was mentioned in despatches for activities in the Middle East during the period May to October 1942.
within the Tenth Army. The Tenth Army was in place to defend against the threat of a German breakthrough in the Caucasus
but after the Soviet victory at the Battle of Stalingrad
this possibility became remote and 5th Indian Division was sent in June 1943 to India to join Indian XV Corps then commanded by William Slim, who was shortly to be promoted to command Fourteenth Army. Briggs was mentioned in despatches in August 1943 for his service in Persia-Itaq.
in the Arakan
in Burma. XV Corps' offensive in January was held by the Japanese who went on the offensive in February, attempting to cut off 5th and 7th Indian Infantry Divisions. Brigg's 9 Indian Brigade, cut off but supplied by air, held off the Japanese during the Battle of the Admin Box
and the two divisions were able to turn the tables on the Japanese and with the help of Indian 26th Infantry Division and British 36th Infantry Division to the north, inflict a heavy defeat.
In March 1944 the bulk of Briggs' division was airlifted north to Imphal
while 161st Indian Brigade was sent to Kohima
to become heavily involved in the Battle of Kohima
. At Imphal
the division was heavily involved in fighting from the end of March until late June when it made contact with British 2nd Infantry Division advancing from Kohima. Following this Briggs was rested and posted to administrative jobs in India having been awarded a second bar to his DSO in May 1944. He was mentioned in despatches in April 1945 and made Commander of the British Empire in May 1945 for services in Burma.
Having commanded a division since May 1942 as an acting major-general, Briggs was only promoted substantive major-general in July 1945, after he had relinquished command. Unusually, he never held the substantive rank of brigadier, being promoted from colonel directly to major-general.
having been made Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in August 1948. Although only a substantive major-general on retirement, he was given the honorary rank of lieutenant-general in July 1948.
where the Malayan Emergency
was in progress. The implementation of the Briggs Plan
is considered an important factor in the authorities' victory over the Malayan Communist Party
rebels. Said of Briggs: "He believed there were 'two key goals' to accomplish in order to end the insurgency -- first, to protect the population, and second to isolate them from the guerrillas."
In 1951 Briggs once again retired to Cyprus but, his health destroyed by his period in Malaya, he died in 1952. The role of Director of Operations in Malaya was assumed by Sir Gerald Templer
who oversaw the successful implementation of Briggs' plan.
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and two bars
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(1894–1952) was an officer in the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the post-war era.
Field Marshal Viscount William Slim said of him
Early life
Educated at Bedford SchoolBedford School
Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Modern School or Bedford High School or Old Bedford School in Bedford, TexasBedford School is an HMC independent school for boys located in the town of Bedford, England, United Kingdom...
he was a U.S. citizen until receiving British naturalisation papers in 1914 and became a cadet at the Royal Military College
Royal Military College
The Royal Military College can refer to:* Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, Canada* Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada* Royal Military College, Duntroon in Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, Australia...
Sandhurst. In 1915, after an initial appointment to the Indian Army was cancelled, he was commissioned into the King's Regiment (Liverpool) and fought with the regiment in France. In 1916 he transferred to the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
joining the 31st Punjabis (which in 1922 became the 2nd battalion 16th Punjab Regiment
16th Punjab Regiment
The 16th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 14th and 15th Punjab Regiments in 1956 to form the Punjab Regiment....
), fighting in Mesopotamia and later in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. In September 1917 he was appointed to command one of the 31st Punjabi's companies in the rank of acting captain, and was attached to the 152nd Punjabis in May 1918 in the same role.
In 1924 he transferred to the 1st battalion 10th Baluch Regiment
10th Baluch Regiment
The 10th Baluch or Baluch Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. After the Partition of India, it was transferred to the Pakistan Army. In 1956, it was amalgamated with the 8th Punjab and Bahawalpur Regiments...
with whom he saw two periods of action in the North West Frontier of India in the 1930s. He was promoted to major in August 1932 (having been made a brevet-major in January) and then lieutenant colonel in September 1937 when given command of the 2nd Battalion 10th Baluch Regiment (now 7th Battalion The Baloch Regiment
Baloch Regiment
The Baloch Regiment is an infantry regiment of Pakistan Army. The modern regiment was formed in May 1956 by the merger of 8th Punjab and Bahawalpur Regiments with the Baluch Regiment. Since then, further raisings have brought the strength of the Regiment to more than fifty battalions...
).
World War II
At the start of World War II Briggs was in India commanding 2nd battalion 10th Baluch Regiment. In September 1940 he was appointed brigadier and given command of 7th Indian Infantry Brigade.Western Desert
The brigade was shipped to join Indian 4th Infantry Division which was forming in Egypt to face the Italian threat from LibyaLibya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. The brigade was not involved in the fighting during Operation Compass
Operation Compass
Operation Compass was the first major Allied military operation of the Western Desert Campaign during World War II. British and Commonwealth forces attacked Italian forces in western Egypt and eastern Libya in December 1940 to February 1941. The attack was a complete success...
but in December 1940 was detached from the division and sent to Port Sudan near the border with northern Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
while the rest of the division (plus one battalion of 7th Brigade) was sent to join Indian 5th Infantry Division on Eritrea's western border with Sudan.
East Africa
During the East African CampaignEast African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
, Briggs commanded Briggsforce - a brigade group composed of two battalions from the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade, one Senegalese battalion officered by Free French officers and a French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
battalion from Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
together with a battery of field artillery and a company of engineers. Operating independently from the main force, Briggsforce advanced from Sudan and, under the direct orders of Lieutenant-General William Platt
William Platt
General Sir William Platt GBE, KCB, DSO was an officer in the British Army, the Australian Army, and the New Zealand Army during World War I and World War II.-Early years:...
, entered Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
from the north through the border town of Karora
Karora
In the mythology of the Aboriginal people of northern Australia , Karora is a bandicoot ancestral deity. According to one legend, during the Dreamtime Karora lay sleeping in the earth when from his head rose a tall pole called a tnatantja. It was a living creature, its bottom resting on his head...
. The force then continued southwards and fought its way to the defences of Keren
Keren, Eritrea
Keren is the second largest city in Eritrea. It is situated about 91 kilometers northwest of Asmara. The town serves as the capital of the Anseba region, and is home to the Bilen ethnic group.-History:...
.
During the Battle of Keren
Battle of Keren
The Battle of Keren was fought as part of the East African Campaign during World War II. The Battle of Keren was fought from 5 February-1 April 1941 between the colonial Italian army defending it's colonial possession of Eritrea and the invading British and Commonwealth forces. In 1941, Keren was...
in March 1941, Briggsforce drew off a significant part of the Italian garrison of Keren even though it lacked the artillery for a major offensive action itself. The attacks by Briggsforce aided Platt's main offensive from the west. Briggs also posed a threat to Massawa
Massawa
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
, Eritrea's main port, on the coast to the east. This obliged the Italians to maintain reserves on the coast which could have been better employed at Keren.
Following Keren's capture Briggsforce cut across country to play a significant role in the capture of Massawa on 9 April.
For his action in East Africa Briggs was awarded his first DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
on 30 December 1941.
Return to the Western Desert
By the end of April 7 Indian Brigade had rejoined 4th Indian Division and returned to Egypt. Owing to lack of transport the brigade took no part in Operation BattleaxeOperation Battleaxe
Operation Battleaxe was a British Army operation during the Second World War in June 1941 with the goal of clearing eastern Cyrenaica of German and Italian forces; one of the main benefits of this would have been the lifting of the Siege of Tobruk....
in June but in August was detached once again as the Oasis Group to hold the Siwa and Jarabub Oases, some 150 miles (241.4 km) south of the Mediterranean coast on each side of the Egypt - Libya border.
Handing over the Oases responsibilities to Indian 29th Infantry Brigade, 7th brigade took part next in Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk....
in November 1941 when Briggs was given the task of taking the Omars, three fortress strongholds some 20 miles (32.2 km) from the coast and forming part of the Axis defenses on the Libyan border. Omar Nuovo was taken on 21 November, the first day of fighting, but it took a week to clear Libyan Omar completely. The third fortress held firm. When Rommel's Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
heavily defeated the British armour at Sidi Rezegh he made his "dash for the wire" to destroy Eighth Army's rear echelons. On 25 November the Axis armour reached 7th Infantry Brigade dug into its newly captured positions and was severely mauled by the divisional artillery and forced to withdraw to the main Axis positions around Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
.
Briggs's brigade took part in Eighth Army's advance to and through the Axis defensive line at Gazala, ending the year at Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
. When Rommel counterattacked in late January from his position at El Agheila
El Agheila
El Agheila is a coastal city at the bottom of the Gulf of Sidra in far western Cyrenaica, Libya. In 1988 it was placed in Ajdabiya District; between 1995 and 2001 the district name is not known; however, it was again placed into Ajdabiya District in 2001...
Briggs found his brigade, still at Benghazi, threatened with being cut off. Dispersing into battalion groups the brigade made its way south across the Axis rear lines into the desert and then turned eastwards to reach Mechili
Mechili
Mechili is a small village in Cyrenaica, Libya and the former site of a turkish fort. It’s nearly east of Benghazi, and west of Timimi.-Geography:Because of its location in the desert, Mechili suffered in the past from isolation...
, still in British hands, with almost no losses. For his leadership during this period Briggs was awarded a second DSO.
As the front line stabilised at the Gazala line 7th Indian Brigade was sent to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
as one of the units relieving Indian 5th Infantry Division which had organised its defenses. However, in May 1942 Briggs was promoted to command Indian 5th Infantry Division which had been placed in reserve behind the Eighth Army's Gazala position. At this time Briggs still only had the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel, although he was promoted to full colonel in September 1942 with seniority backdated to September 1940.
During the Battle of Gazala
Battle of Gazala
The Battle of Gazala was an important battle of the Second World War Western Desert Campaign, fought around the port of Tobruk in Libya from 26 May-21 June 1942...
in June Briggs narrowly avoided capture when his tactical HQ was overrun. His division took heavy casualties in the unsuccessful Operation Anchor and was forced to withdraw from Knightsbridge and El Adem to Sollum on the Egypt - Libyan border to reform. The division was at Mersa Matruh involved in the delaying action as Eighth Army withdrew to El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
and again was severely mauled. The division's 29th Infantry Brigade was overrun and destroyed at Fuka, east of Mersa Matruh, but the two remaining depleted brigades were able to make it back to Alamein.
At Alamein the division was reinforced with 161 Indian Infantry Brigade and took part in various engagements in July around the Ruweisat Ridge, part of the First Battle of El Alamein
First Battle of El Alamein
The First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Allied forces The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert...
.
During the Battle of Alam el Halfa in late August and early September the division was engaged on the Ruweisat Ridge but saw only relatively light action as the main Axis attack developed to the south. Briggs was mentioned in despatches for activities in the Middle East during the period May to October 1942.
Persia
In the autumn of 1942 5th Indian Division was sent to Persia to form part of XXI CorpsXXI Corps (United Kingdom)
The XXI Corps was a Army Corps of the British Army during World War I.-First World War:The Corps was formed in Egypt in June 1917 under the command of Lieutenant General Edward Bulfin...
within the Tenth Army. The Tenth Army was in place to defend against the threat of a German breakthrough in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
but after the Soviet victory at the Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
this possibility became remote and 5th Indian Division was sent in June 1943 to India to join Indian XV Corps then commanded by William Slim, who was shortly to be promoted to command Fourteenth Army. Briggs was mentioned in despatches in August 1943 for his service in Persia-Itaq.
Burma Campaign
In early 1944 Briggs was with Indian 5th Infantry DivisionIndian 5th Infantry Division
Indian 5th Infantry Division was an infantry division in the Indian Army during World War II which fought in several theatres of war and more than earned its nickname the "Ball of Fire".- History :...
in the Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
in Burma. XV Corps' offensive in January was held by the Japanese who went on the offensive in February, attempting to cut off 5th and 7th Indian Infantry Divisions. Brigg's 9 Indian Brigade, cut off but supplied by air, held off the Japanese during the Battle of the Admin Box
Battle of the Admin Box
The Battle of the Admin Box took place on the Southern Front of the Burma Campaign from 5 February to 23 February 1944, in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II...
and the two divisions were able to turn the tables on the Japanese and with the help of Indian 26th Infantry Division and British 36th Infantry Division to the north, inflict a heavy defeat.
In March 1944 the bulk of Briggs' division was airlifted north to Imphal
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
while 161st Indian Brigade was sent to Kohima
Kohima
Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies in Kohima District and is also one of the three Nagaland towns with Municipal council status along with Dimapur and Mokokchung....
to become heavily involved in the Battle of Kohima
Battle of Kohima
The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...
. At Imphal
Battle of Imphal
The Battle of Imphal took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in North-East India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India, but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses...
the division was heavily involved in fighting from the end of March until late June when it made contact with British 2nd Infantry Division advancing from Kohima. Following this Briggs was rested and posted to administrative jobs in India having been awarded a second bar to his DSO in May 1944. He was mentioned in despatches in April 1945 and made Commander of the British Empire in May 1945 for services in Burma.
Having commanded a division since May 1942 as an acting major-general, Briggs was only promoted substantive major-general in July 1945, after he had relinquished command. Unusually, he never held the substantive rank of brigadier, being promoted from colonel directly to major-general.
Post War and retirement
He was appointed lieutenant-general in 1946 when he became Commander in Chief, Burma Command and retired in January 1948 to live in CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
having been made Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in August 1948. Although only a substantive major-general on retirement, he was given the honorary rank of lieutenant-general in July 1948.
Malaya
In 1950 Briggs was recalled to active duty by Slim, who was by that time Chief of the Imperial General Staff, to become Director of Operations in MalayaFederation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
where the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
was in progress. The implementation of the Briggs Plan
Briggs Plan
Briggs' Plan was a military plan devised by British General Sir Harold Briggs shortly after his appointment in 1950 as Director of Operations in the anti-communist war in Malaya. The plan aimed to defeat the Malayan communists, who were operating out of rural areas as a guerrilla army, primarily by...
is considered an important factor in the authorities' victory over the Malayan Communist Party
Malayan Communist Party
The Malayan Communist Party , officially known as the Communist Party of Malaya , was founded in 1930 and laid down its arms in 1989. It is most famous for its role in the Malayan Emergency.-Formation:...
rebels. Said of Briggs: "He believed there were 'two key goals' to accomplish in order to end the insurgency -- first, to protect the population, and second to isolate them from the guerrillas."
In 1951 Briggs once again retired to Cyprus but, his health destroyed by his period in Malaya, he died in 1952. The role of Director of Operations in Malaya was assumed by Sir Gerald Templer
Gerald Templer
Field Marshal Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer KG, GCB, GCMG, KBE was a British military commander. He is best known for his defeat of the guerrilla rebels in Malaya between 1952 and 1954...
who oversaw the successful implementation of Briggs' plan.
Army career
- Commissioned into Kings (Liverpool) Regiment, France - 1915
- Transferred to 31st Punjabis, Mesopotamia - 1916
- Transferred to 1st Battalion 10th Baluch Regiment - 1923
- Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion 10th Baluch Regiment - 1937 to 1940
- Commander 7th (Poona) Brigade, 4th Indian Division, North Africa, East Africa - 1940 to 1942
- General Officer Commanding 5th Indian Division, North Africa, Iraq, Burma - 1942 to 1944
- General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Burma Command - 1946 to 1948
- Director of Operations, Malaya - 1950 to 1951