Person Page - 862

The Ontario Death database on ANcestry.com does not include a Sara Lynch that died in 1913. Since 05 May and 05 June are so similar, I suspect that the above primary death date is for this individual, despite the 2 year+ difference in date.³

Wedding Bells
A very select party, mostly young people, were gathered at the residence of Mrs. Jos. Mayhew, in Admaston, on the evening of the 12th inst., to witness the interesting ceremony which united the fortunes of Mr John F. Joyce and Miss Hannah F. Mayhew; Mr. Chas A Ferguson and Miss Tena Ferguson being the responsible witnesses. It goes without saying that numerous valuable and well-selected presents greeted the highly respected bridal pair, and that the collation was most appetizing. The young couple began life's voyage on the midnight train of the K. & P. R., and they will in a few days remove to their final residence at Webbwood, on the C. P. R. We tender our best wishes for a bright and happy married life.¹⁹

Mr. J. F. Joyce is removing from the Soo to London, Ont., where he has secured a position with a wholesale grocery firm. Mrs. Mayhew, who has been with Mrs. Joyce, will visit Renfrew friends before rejoining the family at London.²²

His parent(s) were listed as James A. Brisco and Alice Beach. Her parents were listed as John Payne and Agnes Elizabeth Tripp.¹²

Survivor(s): Pearl Payne.¹³

His parent(s) were listed as James A. Brisco and Alice Beach. Her parents were listed as John Payne and Agnes Elizabeth Tripp.²

Engagements
Briscoe-Dick
Mr. and Mrs. Russell E. Briscoe, of Renfrew, wish to announce the engagement of their twin daughter, Burrell Mary, to George Arnold Dick, of Douglas, son of Mr. and Mrs. M, Dick. Marriage to take place September 2.⁹

Engagements
Briscoe-Paterson
Mr. and Mrs. Russell E. Briscoe, of Renfrew, Ont., wish to announce the engagement of their daughter, Beatrice Alice, to Stanley Herbert Patterson, of Ottawa, son of Mr. James Paterson and the late Mrs. Paterson, of Ottawa. Marriage to take place November 27.¹⁰

Engagements
Briscoe-Dick
Mr. and Mrs. Russell E. Briscoe, of Renfrew, wish to announce the engagement of their twin daughter, Burrell Mary, to George Arnold Dick, of Douglas, son of Mr. and Mrs. M, Dick. Marriage to take place September 2.⁴

Engagements
Briscoe-Paterson
Mr. and Mrs. Russell E. Briscoe, of Renfrew, Ont., wish to announce the engagement of their daughter, Beatrice Alice, to Stanley Herbert Patterson, of Ottawa, son of Mr. James Paterson and the late Mrs. Paterson, of Ottawa. Marriage to take place November 27.⁵

On Dec 1, 1915, Clifford was taken on strength to the 130th Battalion.

According to his military examination records of Jan 7, 1916 he was a merchant, 5' 5 1/2" height and 140 lbs. In another form he is listed as having brown eyes and black hair.

His unit sailed from Halifax on the S. S. Lapland on Sep 23, 1916. His overseas pay records commence Oct 1, 1916. They disembarked at Liverpool on Oct 6th.

He was transferred to 12 Res Battalion (12 Res Bn) on the same date.

On Nov 24th, 1916, Clifford was promoted to Sergeant.

Then he was transferred to the 38th Battalion (38th Bn) on Dec 1st, 1916.³

On the 27th April, 1917, Clifford Briscoe was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field.

The citation read:
For conspicuous gallantry on early morning of 26th March 1917 near SOUCHEZ.

The enemy blew a camouflet at 5.20 a.m. and broke into one of our Mining Shafts. The force of the explosion burst in the sides of a dug-out near one of the Mine galleries. Twenty men were in the dug-out when the explosion occurred. Three of these managed to make their way out but the remainder were unable to gain the surface.

About a dozen men were standing in the trench near the dug-out entrance, amongst whom were CPL. RAINFORD, SGT. BRISCOE, PTES. EDWARDS and CAREY. These men, without consideration of their own safety, and also having seen the gas flame rush from the mouth of the dug-out, singeing (sic) the hair and burning the faces of some, entered the dug-out and succeeded in bringing 10 men to the surface. The remaining seven men were found to be killed. These men assisted in the work of resuscitation of those overcome by gas.

The men rescued were badly burned and gassed and must have been overcome by fumes but for the prompt and gallant action of these men. Some of the rescuers themselves were badly affected by the gas.

These four men have been selected from the rescuers as being those who rendered the best services.

There (sic) prompt and gallant action undoubtedly saved the loss of 10 of their comrades and it is considered that they are fully deserving off an Immediate Reward. (A.F.B. 3121. April 18th 1917.)¹⁵

He appears to have been wounded when buried, possibly by an exploding shell, on Apr 5, 1917.

On this date he was admitted to No. 11 Can Field Ambulance, a mobile front line medical unit) with a Contus Buried (wd) (contusion, buried - wound.) The next day he was transfered to No. 13 Field Ambulance. From there, on the 14th, he was transferred to 2 Australian General Hospital (2 Aus Gen) at Wimereux, and on the 19th to 1st Convalescent Depot (1 Con Dep.) Boulogne. He rejoined his unit on May 9, 1917 which was by this time known as the 38th Battalion (formerly the 130th battalion.)

killed in action "during the advance on AVION, this non-commisioned officer was one of the first to reach the objectives, but at that moment was instantly killed by enemy shell fire."

The following is from his Find A Grave memorial page:
Born on the Family Farm. Thomas was the 7th child of of James A Briscoe and Alice Adeline Beach.

Note: All the records spell his last name as Briscoe but his parents & siblings, spell it as Brisco

Military Records:

Date of Enlistment: November 24, 1915
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

Service Number: 788520
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)
Division: 38th Bn.

***
Sergeant J Billings, of TCB's company, wrote of his buddie's death to the Renfrew Journal:

"We had orders to go forward on the morning of the 26th and take a French village, which we did with slight losses. On the morning of the 28th, at 2:30 am, we received orders again to advance and take another village, when Sgt. Briscoe got into the trench OK but as usual, Fritz, after being driven out, put a carage on the line he left and, as they were all heavy shells, one of them burst close to Sgt. Briscoe, and he was instantly killed by concussion. Now, what I wish to convey to the people of Renfrew is that no braver boy left Renfrew, nor a more thorough gentleman. He was liked by all who knew him or came in contact with him. I was in his platoon in Canada and here. I was his 2nd Sgt here, and words cannot express my sympathy for such a friend. He was one of the many boys of Renfrew who made good over here. He was decorated here for bravery which he welll earned, and in my opinion should have received the DCM. He was also recommended for a commission in the Battalion for his good work here. ***** Believe me, No 1 Platoon will avenge Sgt Briscoe's death. We buried him four miles back of the firing line in a well-kept soldier's graveyard, along with many other Canadian boys. The officers and non-commisioned officers and men of A Co 38th Battalion, join in sending their deepest sympathy to the friends and parents of a true soldier and a gentleman."

Notes by Rick Moffat: the memorial stone erected in the Rosebank Cemetery gives his date of death as one day later, 28 June 1917. It also incorrectly spells Avion as Avon. See his Death event for other sources for this information.^3,16