Biggs | Henry Vero | | Captain | BIGGS, HENRY VERO, Captain, was born at Belgaum 9 May 1860, third son of Colonel Thomas Biggs, RA (previously of the Bombay Artillery, who died in 1905), and Mary, daughter of Reverend W Beynon. He was educated first at a private school at Clifton, and passed into the RMA, Woolwich, 1877; joined the RE 30 July 1879; embarked for India, 1882, and was posted to the Bombay S and M; spent nearly three years on the Afghan Frontier (including the 1884 Zhob Expedition); served in the third Burmese War, 1885-87 (Medal with clasp); joined the Military Works from the S and M, 1887. He became Captain, 1889; Adjutant, RE, Tirah Expeditionary Force, 1897-98; operations on the NW Frontier, 1897; operations in the Kurram and on the Samana, the Chagru Kotal, capture of the Sampagha Pass and operations in the Khyber. He was mentioned in Despatches, received the Medal with three clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 20 May 1898]: "Henry Vero Biggs, Captain, Royal Engineers. In recognition of services on the North-West Frontier of India". He became Major, 1898; Lieutenant Colonel, 1905; officiated AAG, RE, India, 1906; Brevet Colonel, 1908; commanded RE, 5th (Mhow) Division, 1906-7, 6th (Poona) and 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division, 1909-12; became Colonel 27 May 1912; retired, Military Works, India (Royal Engineers), 29 November 1912; re-employed on account of war, 1914 (Despatches [London Gazette, 24 February 1917]). Colonel Bigg's favourite recreations were fishing and shooting, especially the big game of India. He married, October 1887, at Kasauli, India, Frances Kate, eldest daughter of Colonel C H Ewart, BSC, and they have one son, Henry Ewart Biggs (born 28 June 1893, at Secunderabad, India).
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Engineers |