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RIGGS IN THE ARMED FORCES |
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main page BRAVERY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE:
AUSTRALIANS
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CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE |  |
Individuals are listed in order of precedence of their awards (the highest award documented first)
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INTRODUCTION AND SOURCES AVAILABLE | |
If an individual received more than one decoration for gallantry, the images of the decorations and the initials that appear after his name are in descending order of precedence in accordance with protocol. But the details of the decorations are documented in the order they were awarded.
Clicking on the image of the decoration awarded will take you to a description of it on the separate "Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals" page for Britain and the Commonwealth. If you take advantage of this facility, use your browser's back button to return to this page. Brief descriptions and images of the various campaign medals which the recipients might also have been entitled to wear aren't referred to below, but can be found on the "Campaign and other Service Medals" page for Britain and the Commonwealth in the section on "Some of those who enlisted".
We are extremely fortunate in that there is comprehensive information on the internet regarding decorations and awards to Australian service men and women. The Australian War Memorial website contains searchable databases for:
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Honours and Awards (Gazetted): details of approximately 47,000 military honours and awards to Australians from the Boer War right through to the Viet Nam War. This gives the service number, rank, unit, service, honour/award, date and page number of the London Gazette announcement, and date and page number of the announcement in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. |
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Honours and Awards (Recommendations: First World War): details of approximately 59,000 recommendations made for Honours and Awards to Australians serving with the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. This provides Adobe Acrobat Files (.pdf) with images of the original recommendation. Not all recommendations led to the award being gazetted and this is therefore larger than the preceding database. Additonally, the wording of the original recommendation/citation to be found here is often much fuller than the edited version, if any, published in the gazette (see the example of Captain Harold Riggs's MC. below). |
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Honours and Awards (Index: Second World War, Korean War and Malayan Emergency): digitised images of index cards to approximately 18,000 Honours and Awards made during the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Malayan Emergency. Since the .pdf files are only of index cards, they contain less information than the WW1 files, but they do contain the file reference for the original citation, and also details of the presentation of the insignia. |
The issues of the London Gazette referred to below are searchable online in the Archives section of its web site at www.gazettes-online.co.uk
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Leon Verdi Goldsworthy, GC, DSC, GM, Lieutenant Commander, RANVR |
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Published in London Gazette Issue 36474 page 1775 (and in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 1944MAY4 page 925): "The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the George Medal to: Temporary Lieutenant Leon Verdi Goldsworthy, R.A.N.V.R., for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty."
The index card quotes his rank as Lieutenant, RANVR, and the file reference for the citation as 'RAN N/96'.
MENTION IN DESPATCHES awarded 1944AUG15
Published in London Gazette Issue 36654 page 3767 (and in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 1944AUG31 page 2031):
"Temporary Lieutenant Leon Verdi Goldsworthy, G.M., R.A.N.V.R."
The index card quotes his rank as Lieutenant, RANVR, and the file reference for the citation as 'RAN N/64', against which was typed: "great courage and undaunted devotion to duty."
GEORGE CROSS awarded 1944SEP19
Published in London Gazette Issue 36707 page 4333 (and in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 1944SEP28 page 2211): "The KING has (been graciously pleased to approve the award of the GEORGE CROSS to: Temporary Lieutenant Leon Verdi Goldsworthy, G.M., R.A.N.V.R., for great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty." The George Cross section on the "Digger History" web site quotes the citation in more detail, identifying the place of action as the United Kingdom: "For skill and courage of a high order during a series of mine recoveries extending from the 12th June 1943, to the 10th April 1944, which led to the recovery of four German ground mines, three magnetic mines and one acoustic mine."
The index card quotes his rank as Lieutenant, RANVR, and the file reference for the citation as 'RAN N/88'.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS awarded 1945JAN16 ?
Published in London Gazette Issue 36895 page 419 (and in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 1945FEB1 page 213): "For gallantry and distinguished services in the work of mine-clearance in the face of the enemy: The Distinguished Service Cross. Lieutenant-Commander Leon Verdi Goldsworthy, G.C., G.M., R.A.N.V.R. (E. Perth, Australia)."
The index card quotes his rank as Lieutenant-Commander, RANVR, and the file reference for the citation as 'RAN N/65'.
Leon, whose mother was a RIGGS, was Australia's most highly decorated Naval Officer in World War 2.
Only eight people in the world have ever been awarded both the George Cross and the George Medal.
Fuller details will eventually be provided on the separate page that will be devoted to him in the Notable Individuals section.
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Harold Riggs, MC, Captain, AIF | |
MILITARY CROSS awarded 1919FEB14
Published in London Gazette Issue 31183 page 2384 (and in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 1919JNE17 page 1016): "Australian Imperial Force: Lt. Harold Riggs, 50th Bn., Aust.I.F."
(note that this is indexed within the London Gazette archived file as "Raggs" not "Riggs".
CITATION published 1919JLY30 in London Gazette Issue 31480 page 9803 (and in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 1919NOV20 page 1725). The original wording of the citation in the army files is much fuller and states:
"From 11/13th.Sept.1918, in the vicinity of VENDELLES N.W. of ST. QUENTIN, this officer handled his coy.with strong determination and skill. By a vigorous system of skilfully organised patrols he located enemy posts. By sound tactical distribution of his Coy. and striking with great energy and daring he forced the enemy outposts back in daylight, capturing some prisoners and advancing his line over 1700 yards in spite of heavy hostile machine gun fire. This was done without calling for any support from our artilllery. On 13th.Sept.1918, by close personal supervision of his posts and gallant example of coolness under heavy fire, he beat off two hostile counter-attacks against high ground of special importance which his Coy. held. During the second attack against our line which was supported by an intense hostile barrage he remained in an exposed position to observe the progress of the fight. he not only repulsed the enemy with loss on his own front, but correctly appreciating the difficulties of the Coy. on his right, sent two reserve Lewis guns there, which rendered great assistance at a critical time."
Harold was a Corporal when he enlisted and rose through the ranks to be commissioned and was finally discharged with the rank of Captain. He was a great-grandson of John 'The Gaffer' RIGGS of Gawler, SA (documented as Family Group AUS~SA4, but not yet published on this site). His younger brother, Frank Leslie who enlisted after Harold and was posted to the same Battalion as him, was killed in action in France in August 1916.
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Brian Alfred Riggs, DFC, Flight Lieutenant, RAAF | |
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS awarded 1943JNE15
Published in London Gazette Issue 36054 page 2731 (and in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 1943JNE17 page 2731): "Royal Air Force: Pilot Officer Brian Alfred RIGGS (Aus.416033), Royal Australian Air Force, No. 78 Squadron."
The index card stated that it was awarded for "bombing operations on Genoa and Germany", and the file reference for the citation was 'RAAF 164A'. The insignia was presented by H.M.The King at Buckingham Palace on 1944MCH21.
By the time of his discharge, Brian had been promoted to Flight Lieutenant. He stated when enlisting that he was born 1921JAN13 at Burra, SA and that his next of kin was 'Alfred RIGGS'. He is therefore probably the son of Alfred Benjamin Riggs and a great-grandson of Andrew RIGGS, brother of John 'The Gaffer' RIGGS of Gawler, SA (documented as Family Group AUS~SA3, but not yet published on this site). Alfred Benjamin was a brother to Herbert Leslie Riggs who had been awarded the MM in WW1 (see next section).
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Herbert Leslie Riggs, MM, Private, AIF | |
MILITARY MEDAL awarded 1918JAN28
Published in London Gazette Issue 30498 page 1404: (and in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 1918JNE27 page 1391): "Australian Imperial Force: 1909 Pte. H. L. Riggs, Inf."
The Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards (Gazetted) Database states that he was in the 12th Battalion.
The original wording of the citation in the army files states:
"During operations near HOUGE east of YPRES between 1st and 8th Oct.1917, Pte RIGGS was a stretcher bearer and repeatedly showed courage and devotion to duty in removing wounded from front lines and support trenches under most trying conditions. On Oct.7th he successfully removed a seriously wounded man from an exposed position to our Dressing Station during a heavy barrage."
He was a grandson of Andrew RIGGS, brother of John 'The Gaffer' RIGGS of Gawler, SA (documented as Family Group AUS~SA3, but not yet published on this site). He enlisted the same day as his youngest brother, Vernon Albert Walter RIGGS, who joined as a Sergeant (though not in the same battalion as Herbert) and was subsequently commissioned to become a Second Lieutenant when discharged. A third brother, Elliot Andrew RIGGS who enlisted later, was killed in action in France in April 1918.
