Name
Richard Jaggs
6/03/1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/04/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203676
Norfolk Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 34 to 35 and 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Hoddesdon Congregational Church Memorial, now in Broxbourne United Reformed Church, Broxbourne
Pre War
Richard JAGGS was born on 6th March 1888, in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, son of Henry Jaggs a “Brewery Cellarman”, and Eliza Jaggs (nee Gray). One of their 11 children although one died in infancy. His parents were married on 30th September 1871, in Hoddesdon, Herts.
He was Baptised on 26th August 1888, in the Parish of Hoddesdon, Herts.
1891 Census records Richard aged 3, living with his parents, 4 sisters and three brothers in Duke Street, Hoddesdon, Herts.
1901 Census, Richard aged 13, had left school and was working as a News Boy, living with his parents, three brothers and two sisters in North Road, Hoddesdon, Herts.
Richard married Eliza Ellen Burgess, the daughter of James and Eliza Jane Burgess, of Hoddesdon, Herts, in 1909, in Ware, Herts.
1911 Census records Richard (23), married to Eliza, they have two children, Richard aged 2 and Leonard aged 10 months, living at 3 Melrose Terrace, South Road, Lower Edmonton, Middx. His occupation is a “Tennis Bat Stringer”. Daughter Mable was born later that year.
Wartime Service
Richard enlisted at Edmonton, Middx, posted to the Norfolk Regiment, issued with the service No. 203676, he served initially with the 8th Battalion, later transferred to the 9th Battalion.
On completion of his training, he was sent to the Western Front, where he was Killed in Action on the 15th April 1918, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing in Belgium. Panel 34 to 35.
At the time of his death, he was serving with the “D” Company, 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. Possible Killed during the Battle of the Lys.
Note.
The Norfolk’s were involved with the disaster at the Quadrilateral on 15th September 1916. (Part of the Battle of the Somme) It was a Significant and costly Battle for the 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, who were assigned to attack the Quadrilateral, a heavily fortified position. Despite the presents of Tanks, the attack was met with heavy machine gun fire and barbed wire, leading to a significant number of casualties. The Battle resulted in the loss of 431 other ranks and 4 officers, with many men killed, wounded, or captured. The attack was a failure, and the British forces were forced to withdraw, facing heavy resistance from the German defences. The Battle is remembered for its high casualties and the challenges faced by the British forces during the Battle of the Somme.
Additional Information
Eliza received a grant of £5, on 19th June 1918, and a widow’s pension of 25s/5d, a week from 16th December 1918, her address was 27 Burford Street, Hoddesdon, Herts, and his effects of £2-08-00, pay owing and his war gratuity of £6.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox
