Thomas RIGBY

‘Clitheroe Times’ (21 July 1916)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

SAWLEY

TOM RIGBY WOUNDED

Private Tom Rigby, son of Mr. Thos. Rigby, farmer, Sawley, is at present lying in a Surrey hospital suffering from wounds received in the recent fighting in France. Private Rigby, who is about 23 years of age, joined Mr. Tunstall’s party in the Duke of Wellington’s W.R. Regt.

‘Clitheroe Times’ (28 July 1916)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

DIED OF WOUNDS

RIGBY – In loving memory of Private TOM RIGBY, 10th Batt. Duke of Wellington’s Light Infantry, third son of Mr. and Mrs. T.E. Rigby, Lawson’s House, Sawley, who died of wounds received in France, July 10th, at the Frensham Military Hospital, Surrey, on July 21st, aged 26 years, and was interred at S. Ambrose Church, Grindleton, on July 25th, 1916.

‘Clitheroe Times’ (28 July 1916)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

SAWLEY SOLDIER

PRIVATE T. RIGBY DIES OF WOUNDS

In our issue we mentioned that Private Thomas Rigby, of Lawson’s House, Sawley, had been wounded whilst serving with Captain Tunstill’s company of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. News reached his father on Friday morning, that his son had passed away at Frensham Hill Hospital. Deceased, who was 28 years of Age, was sent out to France as a stretcher-bearer, and was poisoned by drinking bad water as a result of which he was for eleven weeks in hospital. Returning to France, he was again put on as a stretcher-bearer, and on the 10th inst. was engaged in carrying wounded when he was struck on the left arm by shrapnel. Complications ensued and caused death. Private Rigby was exceptionally well-known throughout the whole country side and he will be much missed. The interment took place at Grindleton on Tuesday afternoon. The local mills stopped for a time, and almost all the operatives attended the Churchyard. The scenes were very impressive. The Grindleton Band played suitable music, inside and outside the Church, and after the body had been lowered to its last resting place, the Last Post was sounded by a bugler. The last rites were performed by the Vicar (Rev. F.G. Ackerley) and the rector of Slaidburn (the Rev. J.C. Garnett).

‘Clitheroe Times’ (11 August 1916)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

A DEAD HERO

PRIVATE RIGBY RECOMMENDED FOR HONOURS

Mr. T.E. Rigby, of Lawson’s House, Sawley, has received the following letter from Captain Tunstill, of the West Riding Regiment:– “I have only just heard the sad news that your son, who was the best stretcher bearer that any one could ever wish to have, died in hospital at Frensham. Please accept very deepest sympathy. Rigby was one of those who had been in my company since it was formed. He was a bandsman until we came out a year ago, and has been a stretcher bearer ever since. I was hoping he had got a slight wound and would have got home and better, and not had to come out again. We have been fighting more or less continuously since your son was wounded and our losses are naturally heavy. It may be some consolation to you to know that I recommended your son to the Commission Office, the day he was hit, for very brave and gallant conduct in bringing in wounded across the open under very heavy fire.”

‘The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times’ (22 September 1939)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

ITEMS FROM OUR ISSUES OF SEPTEMBER 18th 1914

Recruits from Waddington who joined Mr. Tunstill’s Settle Company of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, were Joseph B. Hartley, Albert Herd, Harry Smith, Thomas Rigby and William Watson. Grindleton: William I. Bell, James W. Clarkson, Joshua Crossley, and William Walker. Gisburn: Anthony Lofthouse and John Robinson. Newsholme: Thomas E. Askew, Carl P. Braithwaite [Branthwaite], Benjamin A. Butler and William H. Scott.

Grindleton War Memorial – Biographical Notes by Shirley Penman

THOMAS RIGBY, son of Thomas Edward and Ellen nee Nutter married 15-9-1885 St. James, Clitheroe, was born at Slaidburn, resided at Sawley and enlisted in Settle. After travelling to France with his battalion he became a stretcher bearer for his brigade, he later spent eleven weeks in hospital through drinking “bad” water - whether this was from poisoning by the enemy or a form of typhus is not clear - returning to France he was struck in the left arm by shrapnel whilst carrying a wounded soldier on a stretcher. After returning to England for treatment, Thomas died from his wounds at Frensham Military Hospital in Surrey. His remains were transported home and he was interred in St. Ambrose Churchyard on 25-7-1916.

Commemorated on:

Grindleton Memorial
Sawley Memorial