About Me
 |
First Name: | John |
| Last Name: | Rigby | |
| Date Born: | 22 June 1983 | |
| Date Died: | 22 June 2007 | |
| Birth Country: |  England |
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| Gender: | Male |
Light a candle for John Rigby1983 to 2007
aged: 24
From: Rye,east Sussex
Corporal John Rigby, of the 4th Battalion The Rifles, from Rye in East Sussex, died Friday 22nd June.
He died on his 24th birthday after he was injured in a roadside bomb in Iraq,his twin brother, also a soldier, was by his side.
Cpl Rigby and his brother Will became the first twins to reach the North Pole when they made the expedition at the age of 14 with Robertsbridge Community College.
Following his death, he was described by his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Sanders, as an exceptional person, and "a warrior - tough and fierce, swift and bold".
"He had a nobility of spirit and an almost serene aura about him that drew one to him," he said.
Gill Knox, head teacher of Etchingham Primary School, in East Sussex, which he attended as a child, said it planned to create a lasting memorial to Cpl Rigby.
"This morning I spoke in assembly to the children and we said prayers for John and for his family and we lit a candle in remembrance for him," she said.
On the day of his death, his girlfriend Jess sent him a message saying: "Love you lots, hope you have a nice day."
Cpl Rigby, who was due to have been promoted to sergeant in September, shared the same rank in the same battalion as his twin brother, who will accompany his body home.
A statement from his family described him as "a cherished and devoted son and brother; a talented hardworking and successful soldier, popular with his peers and across all ranks alike".
I hope that John's family find the strength they need at this time through messages of support from the public and those who knew him.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtl5kmWrFLg
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