William Geoffrey Morris Rigby, the son of John William and Maude Gillibrand Rigby, was born at Chorley on 16th October 1895. Having graduated from King William's College on the Isle-of-Man, he was a dental student at Victoria University, Manchester when he applied for an army commission in September 1914. Army records describe him as being generally fit, 5ft 8in (1.73m) in height, and weighing 129lbs (59kg). On 2nd October 1914, he was appointed to a commission in the 11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (Accrington Pals) with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Left: William Geoffrey Morris Rigby. Photograph courtesy of John Garwood.

Rigby served with the Chorley Company of the Accrington Pals throughout practically all of its training period, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 20th June 1915, while the battalion was at Penkridge Bank Camp, Rugeley. Before the battalion embarked for Egypt at the end of the year, Rigby transferred to the recently-formed Machine Gun Corps. On 20th May 1916, he left for France, and two days later was posted to 69th Machine Gun Company¹ (23rd Division).

Above: Officers and Sergeants of "C" Company, Accrington Pals in February 1915. Back row, left to right: Joseph Swift, Edward Sharpe, William Heaton; centre row, left to right: Austin Lang, Stephen Loveless, C.S.M. John Donnelly, Thomas Grimshaw, Walter Gent; front row, left to right: 2/Lt. John Charles Shorrock, 2/Lt. Frank Birtwistle, Capt. James C. Milton and 2/Lt. William Geoffrey Morris Rigby. Photograph courtesy of John Garwood.

The Battle of the Somme: la Boisselle, 1st-6th July 1916

23rd Division, held in reserve when the Battle of the Somme opened on 1st July 1916, took over the line in front of la Boisselle from 34th Division over the night of 3rd/4th July. Although 34th Division's attack on 1st July had largely been thrown back, footholds in the German lines had been won at considerable cost in the Schwaben Höhe and on the extreme right of the divisional front, where troops had penetrated as far as Scots Redoubt before being cut off. The two positions were flanked by Sausage Redoubt, which was spectacularly captured by two companies of the 7th East Lancashires on the afternoon of the 2nd. The following morning, the East Lancashires bombed their way up to Scots Redoubt, finally relieving the troops which had held on there since the morning of the 1st.

As the East Lancashires handed over to the 9th Yorkshires (23rd Division) on the night of 3rd/4th July, four Vickers guns of 69th Machine Gun Company under the command of Lieutenants Baker and Rigby were sent up to the Scots Redoubt line. On the 4th, the guns provided covering fire for two bombing raids made by the 11th West Yorkshires, the C.O. of whom afterwards reported that both officers "behaved remarkably well and were of great assistance." Further to the left, the 7th King's Own bombed their way into la Boisselle.

On 5th July, 69th Machine Gun Company was sent forward into the Scots Redoubt line to support an attack against Horseshoe Trench. Most of the ground won early in the day was lost to a strong enemy counter-attack. The enemy attacked again in the afternoon, drawing nearly the whole of 69th Brigade into the fight. It was into the early evening before 69th Brigade returned to the attack, clearing both Horseshoe Trench and Lincoln Redoubt.² 69th Machine Gun Company then sent two guns into the captured line before being relieved overnight. As the exhausted men left the trenches, they were caught in shellfire, losing one officer, three N.C.O.'s and two other ranks. Almost certainly, the officer was William Rigby.

After receiving first aid at 58th Field Ambulance on the 6th, Rigby died from abdominal wounds at 36th Casualty Clearing Station, Heilly on the 7th. His family received news of his death by telegram on the 10th. His grave is in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe.

In 1920, William's parents paid £200 for a clock to be installed in St. George's Church, Chorley in memory of their son. There are plaques to his memory both in the main body of the church and in the clock tower. Right: Plaque to the memory of William Rigby in St. George's Church, Chorley. Photograph courtesy of John Garwood. [more photographs]

Notes

1. A Machine Gun Company typically took its number from the Infantry Brigade to which it was attached.
2. During the fighting for Horseshoe Trench, 25-year old 2/Lt. Donald Simpson Bell of the 9th Yorkshires won the Victoria Cross. The citation for his award was published in the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 9th September 1916, and reads: "For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a hostile machine gun. 2nd Lt. Bell immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corpl. Colwill and Pte. Batey, rushed across the open under very heavy fire and attacked the machine gun, shooting the firer with his revolver, and destroying gun and personnel with bombs. This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of the attack. Five days later this gallant officer lost his life performing a very similar act of bravery." Donald Bell lies in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-la-Boisselle. The spot where he fell was marked in 2000 with a stone cross.

© Andrew C Jackson 2004
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Compiled from TNA documents WO339/16464 and WO95/2184, the Chorley Guardian of 15th July 1916, the Daily Telegraph of 28th June 2000, "The History of the East Lancashire Regiment in the Great War" edited by Major General Sir N. Nicholson, and "Military Operations France and Belgium 1916 Vol II" compiled by Capt. Wilfrid Miles.