Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Robert Briggs a brick burner, born 1866 in Birkenhead, Ches., and his wife Annie Elizabeth, born 1869 in Reach, Cambs. James Frederick was born in 1892 in Peterborough, Northants., his siblings were Thomas Robert, born 1891 and Ernest, born 1898, both his siblings were born in Peterborough, Northants., also residing with the family was his widowed maternal grandmother Maria Hardey, born 1835 in Reedham, Norfolk, in March 1901 the family home was at 7, Victoria Place, Old Fletton, Northants. In April 1911 James was a brickwork’s labourer and was residing in the family home at 40, Duke Street, Old Fletton, Northants., together with his parents and siblings, Thomas, Ernest, Sidney Albert Victor, born 1906 and Percy, born 1909, the latter two siblings were both born in Peterborough, Northants., also residing with the family was his widowed maternal grandmother Maria Wright. The family later moved to 15, Bagworth Row, Hugglescote, Leics. James later married and became the husband of Dora Winifred Briggs. Details taken from his service record show that James had served for six weeks as a Private in the Northampton Special Reserves, before enlistment his trade was shown as Labourer. He was shown to be 5 foot 6 inches in height, with a chest measurement of 39 inches, he had a medium complexion, hazel eyes and had brown hair, he had a birthmark on the right side of his back, his religion was given as Church of England. He died of the wounds he received at Passchendaele, Belgium.