Lt
John Samuel Thompson Rigby
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1888 |
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Place of birth: Coleraine, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Mill Hand, Sawmill |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Lieutenant |
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Service number: 1548 |
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Enlistment date: 05/03/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Balmoral, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 21st Bn. (Victoria) (Last known unit) — Australian Infantry, 23rd Bn. (Victoria) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Romulus Wood, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 29 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Bay 23 stone O |
Distinctions and medals 4
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Military Medal Medal — 21/09/1916 |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Lieutenant Rigby John Samuel Thompson was the oldest son of Thomas and Martha Rigby and worked as sawmiller when he enlisted on the 5th March 1915 in the 23st Battalion AIF, part of the 6th Brigade, 2nd Australian Division. Later he was appointed to the 6th Australian Light MortarBattery of the 21st Battalion.
He served in Egypt, Gallipoli and France before going to the 2nd Army LTM school. John Samuel Rigby was awarded the Military Medal on 21 September 1916 and was later promoted to Lieutenant.
The recommendation for his MM states: "On 5th August at POZIERES he brought his gun into action in the captured trenches, shortly afterwards an enemy shell put the gun out of action, killing one and wounding three men of the set. He removed two of his wounded through the barrage to the Aid post and was about to return for the third when he was ordered to quit owing to the increased intensity of fire. He has been conspicuous for his cool gallantry throughout this action, as was the case on the "Southland" and at Armentieres."
On the 4th of October 1917 the 2nd Australian Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 21st Battalion was part of the 6th Brigade, which attacked on the right of the divisional front. The 22nd Battalion would take the first objective, the red line. Once they had taken this line, the 24th would pass through the 22nd on the right and the 21st would do the same on the left. The Battalion assembled before the attack at the jumping-off positions in front of Tokio, but soon moved closer to the road leading to Tokio on account of German artillery fire on and around Albania. They made use of shell holes and old trench systems to form a line.
At 5.35 a.m. moments before the Battalion would attack, the German artillery, including minenwerfers, started shelling the jump-off line, causing heavy casualties. The Germans were about to attack themselves in the hope of recapturing Zonnebeke. The heavy shell fire was very destructive.
At 6 a.m. the British and Australian artillery opened fire on the German positions and the troops started to advance. The 22nd led off, followed by the 21st and 24th. Zonnebeke Lake was on the jumping-off line on the left. The three battalions had to storm the front over 3oo yards right of the lake. Once they had passed the lake the units on the left had to change direction to cover the ground allotted to them.
The German infantry was utterly surprised by the allied barrage. They were quickly dispersed, killed or taken prisoner by the advancing Australians. Docile Trench and De Knoet Farm fell without much opposition and the 22nd Battalion reached their objective by 6.50 a.m. On the right flank of the 24th Battalion the troops met resistance in Romulus Wood, but the Germans were eventually overpowered. At 7.30 a.m. the 21st and 24th moved up behind the protective barrage, reaching the second objective, the blue line at 8.10 a.m., where the dug in and prepared for eventual counterattacks. The 21st Battalion captured the hamlet of Broodseinde and consolidated a line on the Broodseinde Ridge.
During these events, Lieutenant Rigby John Samuel Thompson, age 29, was killed in action near Romulus Wood. In his Service Record is mentioned that although a report of burial in "Sunken Road" (D.29.a.9.3.) was given, it would appear that the ground was afterwards swept by shell fire, and in this way much difficulty has been encountered in locating the grave. On the same day his brother Frank, also lieutenant in the 21st Battalion AIF was killed in action.
Their father wrote to the army in 1919 requesting that his two sons be buried alongside each other. Despite the best efforts of the army, who had agreed in writing to his request, as soon as the remains were found, neither of the brothers bodies were located and they remain missing until this day. Both brothers are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Bay 23, stone O.
He served in Egypt, Gallipoli and France before going to the 2nd Army LTM school. John Samuel Rigby was awarded the Military Medal on 21 September 1916 and was later promoted to Lieutenant.
The recommendation for his MM states: "On 5th August at POZIERES he brought his gun into action in the captured trenches, shortly afterwards an enemy shell put the gun out of action, killing one and wounding three men of the set. He removed two of his wounded through the barrage to the Aid post and was about to return for the third when he was ordered to quit owing to the increased intensity of fire. He has been conspicuous for his cool gallantry throughout this action, as was the case on the "Southland" and at Armentieres."
On the 4th of October 1917 the 2nd Australian Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 21st Battalion was part of the 6th Brigade, which attacked on the right of the divisional front. The 22nd Battalion would take the first objective, the red line. Once they had taken this line, the 24th would pass through the 22nd on the right and the 21st would do the same on the left. The Battalion assembled before the attack at the jumping-off positions in front of Tokio, but soon moved closer to the road leading to Tokio on account of German artillery fire on and around Albania. They made use of shell holes and old trench systems to form a line.
At 5.35 a.m. moments before the Battalion would attack, the German artillery, including minenwerfers, started shelling the jump-off line, causing heavy casualties. The Germans were about to attack themselves in the hope of recapturing Zonnebeke. The heavy shell fire was very destructive.
At 6 a.m. the British and Australian artillery opened fire on the German positions and the troops started to advance. The 22nd led off, followed by the 21st and 24th. Zonnebeke Lake was on the jumping-off line on the left. The three battalions had to storm the front over 3oo yards right of the lake. Once they had passed the lake the units on the left had to change direction to cover the ground allotted to them.
The German infantry was utterly surprised by the allied barrage. They were quickly dispersed, killed or taken prisoner by the advancing Australians. Docile Trench and De Knoet Farm fell without much opposition and the 22nd Battalion reached their objective by 6.50 a.m. On the right flank of the 24th Battalion the troops met resistance in Romulus Wood, but the Germans were eventually overpowered. At 7.30 a.m. the 21st and 24th moved up behind the protective barrage, reaching the second objective, the blue line at 8.10 a.m., where the dug in and prepared for eventual counterattacks. The 21st Battalion captured the hamlet of Broodseinde and consolidated a line on the Broodseinde Ridge.
During these events, Lieutenant Rigby John Samuel Thompson, age 29, was killed in action near Romulus Wood. In his Service Record is mentioned that although a report of burial in "Sunken Road" (D.29.a.9.3.) was given, it would appear that the ground was afterwards swept by shell fire, and in this way much difficulty has been encountered in locating the grave. On the same day his brother Frank, also lieutenant in the 21st Battalion AIF was killed in action.
Their father wrote to the army in 1919 requesting that his two sons be buried alongside each other. Despite the best efforts of the army, who had agreed in writing to his request, as soon as the remains were found, neither of the brothers bodies were located and they remain missing until this day. Both brothers are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Bay 23, stone O.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Frank Rigby
Brother |
Sources 9
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"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 98-99" Sources used |
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AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=255392 Sources used |
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AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=Rigby+John&people_service_number=1548&people_unit= Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1600712/rigby,-john-samuel-thompson/ Sources used |
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Image https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/229370572?keyword=Rigby%20John%20Samuel Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8031680 Sources used |
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The long long trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342420 Sources used |
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WarDiary 6th LMB 4thOct17 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1348015 Sources used |