John Dennis Riggs

Story:
John Dennis Riggs was born in 1888 in Farnham, Dorset, and baptised at Tollard Royal on 20th January, 1889. He was the son of John Dennis Riggs, a Gardener, and Fannie Riggs (née Raymond). His siblings included Cecil Herbert, born in 1893, who also died in the war. The 1911 Census shows that John was working as a Farm Labourer and living at Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. John married Alice Rachel Andrews at Witchampton, Dorset, on 26th December, 1911. He enlisted at Shaftesbury as a Private in the Dorset Yeomanry (The Queen's Own) (Service No. 1180). He served at Gallipoli and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 21st August 1915 and his name appears on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey (Panel 17 and 18). John's widow Alice was at this time living with their two daughters at Hillside, Manswood, Wimborne. He is remembered on the Melbury Abbas War Memorial and on the memorial plaque inside the church at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire.

He is also remembered in Tollard Royal, on the War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour inside the Church of St. Peter and Vincula in the village.