RIGBY Brothers Son sons of William and Jessie
Private 240722 William Hamilton RIGBY, (left) of the Gloucestershire Regiment and his brother Private John Alexander RIGBY (right) of the Gloucestershire Hussars came from Gloucester. This photograph was taken on their return home from the front for the funeral of a third brother who was killed in action. They both survived the Great War despite being wounded.
William Hamilton RIGBY. Private 2706, 2/5th Gloucestershire Regiment was born 7th March 1890 at Tredworth, Gloucestershire, to William and Jessie. He was baptised 4th February 1891 at Gloucester, St Lukes. Home address was 63 Alma Place, Gloucester, fathers occupation deal porter, (carrier). (working at the docks moving the deal (wood) dockside. In 1911 he was living with his parents at 63 Clegram Road, Gloucester City, occupation, iron sawyer. On the 3rd April 1920 he married Miss Marion Howard Underwood at St Luke, Gloucester City. He was aged 30, lived at 63 Clegram Road, Gloucester City, worked as a machinist. Marion was aged 24, lived at 63 Clegram Road, daughter of Roland Septimus Underwood, commercial traveller, deceased.
Some notes from what remains of his army records.
He joined up aged 24 and 6 months on the 29th August 1914, occupation, machinist and posted as Private 2706 to the 2/5th Gloucestershire Regiment. At some stage his army number changed to 240722 He was living with his parents, William and Jessie at 63 Clegram Road, Gloucester City. At some stage he was posted to France (his medal card shows 25th June 1915) While in France he was wounded by gun shot to his chest, left shoulder, hand and left femur . No record as to medical treatment he received. He was not medically discharged but transferred to Army Reserve with the 4th Gloucester Reserve Battalion to Class Z on the 9th September 1919. He was sent by the ministry of munitions to work for Messrs Thomas Summerson and Sons, Ltd, at Albert Hill Foundry, York Street, Darlington, Yorkshire where he was employed a milling machinist. He was boarding at 44 Thornton Street, Darlington. Some time later the Ministry of Munitions was assigned to Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Co Ltd.
John Alexander RIGBY. Was baptised on the 22nd December 1897 at Gloucester St Lukes to William and Jessie of 63 Alma Place, fathers occupation deal porter, (carrier) In 1911 he was living with his parents at 63 Clegram Road, Gloucester City. He was married on the 21st September 1921 to Miss Elsie Matilda Page at St Lukes, Gloucester City. He was aged 22, steam hammer driver, living at 63 Clegram Road, Gloucester. Elsie was aged 24, living at 59 Bristol Road, Gloucester City, daughter of Charles Henry Page, bricklayer (deceased)
Medal Card for John Alexander Rigby. Private 2948 Gloucestershire Hussars Private 235590 Gloucestershire Yeomanry. Served in Egypt 7th December 1915. Left the army 25th February 1919 and died on the 23rd May 1939. At the time of his death he was living at Bromboro Brean, Down Avenue, Weston Super Mare, Somerset.
Archibald Theodore RIGBY. Private 10852, 1st Welsh Fusiliers Killed in action 4th May 1917. He was baptised on the 26th August 1891 at St Luke's, Gloucester City to William and Jessie of 63 Alma Place, Gloucester City, fathers occupation, labourer. In 1911 he was a boarder at the home of William Frederick Hodgson and Lottie Annie of 3 New Dumfries Street, Treherbert, Pontypridd, Glamorgan, South Wales. Occupation, coal miner hewer. His father was granted a war gratuity on the 14th May 1919. He died in 1978. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
